iiiiii 


iaiiiiill,.. 


^oSSl^ 


^^2i'.c4M^-^/ 


v\ 


THE  EMPIRE  OF  RUSSIA. 


Digitized  by  tine  Internet  Arciiive 

in  2008  witin  funding  from 

IVIicrosoft  Corporation 


http://www.arcliive.org/details/empireofrussiafrOOabbo 


THE    MONARCHIES 


CONTINENTAL     EUE.OPE. 


THE 


lEMPIRE    of    RUSSIA; 


FROM     THE 


REMOTEST  PERIODS  TO  THE  PRESENT  TIME. 


B  Y 

JOHN    S.    C.    ABBOTT. 


NEW     YORK: 

JM    ^    S    O    N       JB    K,    O    a^    K    IG    K,    S, 

5   &    7    M  K  li  C;  E  It    S  T  K  E  E  T . 

1800. 


Entered,  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  tS59,  by 

MASON     BROTHERS, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  for  the  Southern  District  of  New  York. 


STEEKOTTPEI)   )>Y  PBINTEIi    liY 

r.    B.8MITII&SON-,  O.A.AT,VOKD, 

82  &  84  UEEKMAN-8T.  16  VANDEWATEE-BT. 


PREFACE 


The  world  is  now  too  busy  to  read  voluminous  history. 
The  interminable  details  of  battles,  and  the  petty  intrigues 
of  courtiers  and  mistresses,  have  lost  their  interest.  In 
this  volume  it  has  been  our  object  to  trace  perspicuously 
the  path  which  Russia  has  trod  from  earliest  infancy  to 
the  present  hour.  The  career  of  this  empire  has  been  so 
wild  and  wonderful  that  the  historian  can  have.no  occa- 
sion to  call  in  the  aid  of  fancy  for  the  embellishment  of 
his  narrative. 

The  author  has  not  deemed  it  necessary  to  incumber 
his  pages  with  notes  to  substantiate  his  statements.  The 
renowned  Russian  historian,  Karamsin,  who  wrote  under 
the  patronage  of  Alexander  I.,  gives  ample  authentication 
to  all  the  facts  which  are  stated  up  to  the  reign  of  that 
emperor.  His  voluminous  history,  in  classic  beauty,  *is 
unsurpassed  by  any  of  the  annals  of  Greece  or  Rome.  It 
has  been  admirably  translated  into  French  by  Messrs.  St. 
Thomas  and  Jauffret  in  eleven  imperial  quarto  volumes. 
In  the  critical  citations  of  this  author,  the  reader,  curious 
in  such  res(,'arches,  will  find  every  fact  in  the  early  history 
of  Russia,  here  stated,  confirmed. 

There  are  but  few  valuable  works  upon  Russia  in  the 
English  language.  Nearly  all,  wliich  can  be  relied  upon 
as  authorities,  are  written  either  in  French  or  (lerman. 
The  writer  would  refer  those  who  seek  a  more  minute 
acquaintance  with  this  empire,  now  rising  so  ra])idly  in 
imj)ortance,  first  of  all  to  Ksiramsin.  The  "  llistoire 
Phil(is<)])hi(pie  (;t  Politicjue  d(!  Russie  Depuis  les  Temps 
les  rius  Recules  Jusqu'au  Nos  Jours,   par  J.  Esneaux," 


VI  PREFACE. 

Paris,  five  volumes,  is  a  valuable  work.  The  "  Histoire 
de  Russie  par  Pierre  Charles  Levesque,"  eight  volumes,  is 
discriminating  and  reliable.  The  various  volumes  of  Wil- 
liam Tooke  upon  Russian  history  in  general,  and  upon  the 
reign  of  Catharine,  contain  much  information. 

It  is  only  since  the  reign  of  Peter  the  Great  that 
Russia  has  begun  to  attract  much  attention  among  the 
enlightened  nations  of  Europe.  Voltaire's  life  of  this  most 
renowned  of  the  Russian  sovereigns,  at  its  first  publica- 
tion, attracted  much  notice.  Since  then,  many  books 
liave  been  written  upon  fragments  of  Russian  history  and 
individual  reigns.  From  most  of  these  the  author  has 
selected  such  events  as  have  appeared  to  him  most  in- 
structive and  best  adapted  to  give  the  reader  a  clear 
conception  of  the  present  condition  and  future  prospects 
of  this  gigantic  empire.  The  path  she  has  trod,  since  her 
first  emergence  into  civilization  from  the  chaos  of  barbar- 
ism, can  be  very  distinctly  traced,  and  one  can  easily 
count  the  concentric  accretions  of  her  growth.  This  nar- 
rative reveals  the  mistakes  which  have  overwhelmed  her 
with  woe,  and  the  wisdom  which  has,  at  times,  secui-ed 
for  Russia  peace  and  prosperity. 

.  In  writing  these  histories  of  the  monarchies  of  Conti- 
nental Europe,  the  author  has  no  wish  to  conceal  his 
abhorrence  of  aristocratic  usurpation.  Believing  in  the 
universal  brotherhood  of  man,  his  sympathies  are  most 
cordially  with  the  oppressed  masses.  If  the  people  are 
weak  and  debased,  the  claim  is  only  the  more  urgent  upon 
the  powerful  and  the  wise  to  act  the  part  of  elder  broth- 
ers, holding  out  the  helping  hand  to  those  who  have 
fallen.  The  author  feels  grateful  for  the  reception  which 
the  first  number  of  this  series,  the  Empire  of  Austria,  lias 
received  from  the  American  public.  Pie  hopc^s  that  this 
volume  will  not  prove  less  interesting  or  instructive.  In 
tlu!  course  of  a  few  months  it  will  be  followed  by  the 
History  of  Italy, 


CONTENTS. 


CHAPTERI. 

PARENTAGE    AND    BIKTII     OF    RUSSIA. 

From  500  b.  c.  to  a.  d.  910. 

PAGn 
Pkimf.val  Russia.— Explorations  of  the  Gkreks.— Scythian  Invasion.— Char- 
acter OF  THE  Scythians. — Sar.matia.— Assaults  upon  the  Roman  Empire. — 
Ikiiuption  of  the  Alains.— Conquests  of  Trajan.— The  Gothic  Invasion.— 
The  IIuns  — Thkir  Charactep.  and  Aspect. — The  Devastations  of  Attila. — 
The  Avars — Results  of  Com.minglings  of  these  Tribes. — Normans. — Birth 
OF  the  Russian  Empire  — The  Three  Sovereigns  Ruric,  Sineous  and  Truvor. 
— Adventures  of  Ascolod  and  Dir. — Intp.oduction  of   Christianity. — Usur- 

TATION   OF   OlEG. — HiS   CONQUESTS.- EXPEDITION   AGAINST  CONSTANTINOPLE 17 

CHAPTER    II. 

GROWTH    AND     CONSOLIDATION     OF     RUSSIA. 

From  910  to  9T3. 

Expedition  to  Constantinople. — Treaty  with  the  Emperor. — Last  Days  of 
Oleo. — His  Death. — Igor  assumes  the  Scepter. — His  Expedition  to  the  Don. 
— Descent  upon  Constantinople. — His  Defeat.— Second  Expedition. — Pusil- 
lanimity of  the  Greeks. — Death  of  Igor. — Regency  of  Olga. — Her  Charac- 
ter.— Succession  of  Sviatoslaf. — His  Lmpiety  and  Ambition.-tConque.st  op 
Bulgaria. — Division  of  the  Empire. — Defeat,  Ruin  and  Death  of  Sviatos- 
laf.— Civil  War. — Death  of  Oleg. — Flight  of  Vladimir. — Supremacy  of 
Yabopolk .So 

CHAPTER    III. 

KEIQNS    OF     VLADIMIR,     YAROSLAF,    YSIASLAF    AND     VSEVOLOD. 

From  9T3  to  1092. 

Flight  of  Vladi.mip.. — His  Stolen  Bride. — The  March  upon  Kief. — Derauch- 
ery  of  Vladimir. — Zealous  Pagani.s.m. — Introduction  of  Christianity. — Bap- 
Tis.M  IN  THE  Dnieper. — Entire  Change  in  the  Character  of  Vladi.mir. — llis 
Great  Rekob.ms. — His  Death. — Usurpation  of  Sviatopolk  the  Miserable. — 
AocEflsiON  of  Yaroslaf. — His  Ad.ministration  and  Death. — Accession  of 
Ysiaslaf.— Ills -Strange  Reverses — His  Death.— Vsevolod  Ascends  tup. 
Tiii'.onk. — Ifis  Two  Flights  to  Poland. — Appeals  to  the  Pope. — Wars,  Fam- 
INK  and  Pestilence. — Character  of  Vsevolod TjI 


Vlll  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    IV. 

TEAKS     OF    WAR    AND     WOE. 
Fkom  1092  TO  1167. 

PAOB 

Chaeacter  of  Vsevolod. — Succession  op  Sviatopolk. — llis  DiscoMFiTtrKE. — De- 
plorable Condition  of  Eussia. — Death  of  Sviatopolk. — His  Chap.acteb. — 
Accession  of  Monomaque. — CuKiofs  Festival  at  Kief. — Energy  of  Mono- 
MAtiUE. — Alarm  of  the  Emperor  at  Constantinople. — Horrors  of  War. — 
Death  of  Monomaque. — His  Eemaekable  Character. — Pious  Letter  to  his 
Children. — Accession  of  Mstislaf. — His  Short  but  Stormy  Keign. — Strug- 
gles for  the  Throne. — Final  Victory  op  Ysiaslaf. — Moscow  in  the  Prov- 
ince of  Souzdal. — Death  of  Ysiaslaf. — Wonderful  Career  of  Eostislaf. — 
KisiNG  Power  of  Moscow. — Geoegievitch,  Prince  of  Moscow 68 


CHAPTER    V. 

MSTISLAF    AND     ANDKE. 

From  1167  to  1212. 

Centealization  of  Power  at  Kief. — Death  of  Eostislaf. — His  Eeligious  Chae- 
ACTEE. — Mstislaf  Tsiaslavitch  Ascends  tuk  Throne. — Proclamation  of  the 
King. — Its  Effect. — Plans  of  Andre. — Scenes  at  Kief. — Eeturn  and  Death 
OF  Mstislaf. — War  in  Novgorod. — Peace  Concluded  Throughout  Eussia. 
— Insult  of  Andre  and  its  Consequences. — Greatness  of  Soul  Displayed  by 
Andre. — Assassination  of  Andrb. — Eenewal  of  Anarchy. — Emigration  from 
Novgorod. — Eeign  of  Michel. — Vsevolod  III. — Evangelization  op  Bulgaria. 
— Death  of  Vsevolod  HI. — His  Queen  Maria 


CHAPTER    VI. 

THE    GRAND     PRINCES     OF     VLADIMIR,    AND    THE     INVASION    OF 
GHENGHIS    KAHN. 

From  1212  to  1238. 

Accession  of  Georges. — Famine. — Battle  of  Lipetsk. — Defeat  op  Georges 

His  Surrender. — Constantin  Seizes  the  Soeptkr. — Exploits  of  Mstislaf. — 
I.miiecility  of  Const.\ntin. — Death  op  Constanti?;. — Georges   III. — Invasion 

OF   JiULGARIA. — Pr0(!RESS   OF  THE  MONARCHY. — ElGHT  OF  SUCCESSION. — COMMERCE 

OF  TMK  Dnieper. — GiiENGiiit  Khan. — IIis  Rise  and  Conquests. — Invasion  of 
Southern  Russia. — Death  of  Ghbnguis  Khan. — Succession  of  his  Son  Ougadal 
— March  of  Bati. — Entrance  into  Eussia. — Utter  Defeat  of  the  Eussianb.  104 


CHAPTER    VII. 

THE    SWAT    OF    THE    TAETAR     PRINCES. 

From  12-38  to  1304. 

Retreat  of  Georges  II. — ^Desolating  March  of  the  Tartars. — Capture  op  Vla- 
dimir.— Fall  of  Moscow. — Utter  Defeat  of  Georges. — Conflict  of  Tokjek. 
— March  of  the  Tartars  toward  the  South.— Subjugation  of  the  Polov- 


CONTENTS.  IX 

,  PAGE 

TSL — Capture  of  Kief. — Humiliation  op  Taroslaf. — Overthrow  op  tub 
Russian  Kixgdom. — IIaugiitiness  op  the  Tartars. — Reign  of  Alexander. — 
ScccEssioN  OF  Yaroslaf. — The  Keign  of  Vassult. — State  op  Curistianitv. — 
Infamy  of  Andre. — Struggles  -with  Dmitri. — Independence  of  tub  Princi- 
palities.— De ATu  of  Andre 121 


CHAPTER    VIII. 

EESUEEECTION    OF    THE     RUSSIAN    MONARCHY. 
From  1304  to  1380. 
Defeat  of  Geokges  and  the  Tartars. — Indignation   of  the  Khan. — Michel 

SU.M.M0NED    to    THE    HoRDE. — HiS     TrIAL    AND     ExECUTlOX. — ASSASSINATION     OP 

Georges. — Execution  of  Dmitri. — Repulse  and  Death  of  the  Embassador 
OP  the  Khan. — Vengeance  of  the  Khan. — Increasing  Prosperity  of  Russia. 
— The  Great  Plague. — Supremacy  of  Simon. — Anarchy  in  the  Horde. — 
Plague  and  Conflagration.— The  Tartars  Repulsed. — Reconquest  of  Bul- 
garia.— The  Great  Battle  op  Kouukof. — Utter  Rout  of  the  Tartars 136 


CHAPTER    IX. 

DMITRI,    VAS8ALI,    AND    THE    MOGOL    TAMERLANE. 

From  1.3S0  to  1462. 

Recovery  of  Dmitrl — New  Tartar  Invasion. — The  Assault  and  Capture  of 
Moscow. — New  Subjugation  of  the  Russians.— Lithu-vma  Embraces  Chris- 
tianity.— Escape  of  Vassali  from  the  Horde. — Death  of  Dmitri. — Tamer- 
lane— His  Origin  and  Career. — His  Invasion  of  India. — Defeat  of  Bajazet. 
— Tamerlane  Invades  Russia. — Preparations  for  Resistance. — Sudden  Re- 
treat of  the  Tartars. — Death  of  Vassali. — Accession  of  Vassali  Vassilie- 
viTCH. — The  Disputed  Succe.ssion. — Appeal  to  the  Khan. — Rebellion  of 
Youiii. — Cruelty  op  Vassali. — ^Tiie  Retribution 1 


CHAPTER    X  . 

THE    ILLUSTRIOUS    IVAN    III. 

From  1462  to  14S0. 

Ivan  III.— His  Pbeoocity  and  Rising  Powep.. — ^The  Three  Great  Hordes. — 
Russian  ExPEDiTifiN  against  Kezan. — Defeat  of  the  Tartars. — Capture  of 
Constantinople  by  the  'J'up.ks — The  Princess  Sophia. — Her  Journey  to 
Russia,  and  Marria(ie  with  Iva.n  HI. — Inckeasino  Renown  of  Russia. — 
New  Difficulty  with  the  Horde. — The  Tartars  Invade  Russia. — Strife  on 
THE  Banks  op  the  Oka. — Letter  of  the  Metropolitan  Bishop. — Unprece- 
dented Panic. — Liberation  of  Russia 16*^ 

1* 


X  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTER    XI. 

THE    KEIGN    OF    VAS8IL1. 
From  14S0  to  1583. 

PAGE 

Alliance  with  Hungary. — A  Traveler  from  Germany. — Treaty  Between  Rus- 
sia AND  Germany. — E.mbassage  to  Turkey. — Court  Etiquette. — Death  op 
*  THE  Princess  Sophia. — Death  op  Ivan. — Advancement  of  Knowledge. — Suc- 
cession OP  Vassili. — Attack  Upon  the  Horde. — Eout  of  the  Russians. — The 
Grand  Prince  Takes  the  Title  op  Emperor. — Turkish  Envoy  to  Moscow. — 
Efforts  to  Arm  Europe  Against  the  Turks. — Death  of  the  Emperor  Max- 
imilian, AND  Accession  of  Charles  V.  to  the  Empire  of  Germany. — Death 
OF  Vassili 183 


CHAPTER    XII. 

IVAN     IV.  — HIS    MINORITY. 

From  1533  to  1546. 

Vassili  at  the  Chase. — Attention  to  Distinguished  Foreigners. — The  Autoo- 
RAOY. — Splendor  op  the  Edifices. — Slavery. — Aristocracy. — Infancy  op 
Ivan  IV. — Regency  of  Helene. — Conspiracies  and  Tumults. — War  with  Sig- 
ismond  of  Poland. — Death  of  Helene. — Struggles  of  the  Nobles.— Appall- 
ing Sufferings  of  Dmitri. — Incursion  op  the  Tartars. — Successful  Conspir- 
acy.— Ivan  IV.  at  the  Cha^e. — Coronation  op  Ivan  IV 199 


CHAPTER    XIII.. 

THE    REIGN    OF    IVAN    IV. 

From  1546  to  1552. 

The  Title  of  Tzar. — Marriage  op  Ivan  IV. — Virtues  op  His  Bride. — Depraved 
Character  of  the  Young  Emperor. — Terrible  Conflagrations. — Insurrec- 
tions.— The  Reiujke. — Wonderful  Change  in  the  Character  of  Ivan  IV. 
— Confessions  op  Sin  and  Measures  of  Reform. — Sylvestre  and  Alexis 
Adacuep. — The  Code  of  Laws. — Reforms  in  the  Church. — Encourage.vent 
to  Men  op  Science  and  Letters. — The  Embassage  of  Schlit. — War  with 
Kezan. — Disasters  and  Disgrace. — Immense  Preparation  for  the  Chastise- 
ment op  the  Horde. — The  March. — Repulse  of  the  Taueedians.— Siege  of 
Kezan.— Incidents  op  the  Siege 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

THE    REIGN    OF    IVAN    IV  .— C  O  N  T  I  N  U  E  D . 

From  1552  to  1557. 

BiEOE  OP  Kf4^. — Artifices  of  War. — The  Explosion  op  Mines.— The  Final 
Assault. — Complete  Sub.iuoation  of  Kezan. — Gratitude  and  Liberality  op 
the  Tzar. — Return  to  Moscow. — Joy  of  the  Inhabitants. — Birth  op  an  Heir 
to  the  Crown. — Insurrection  in  Kezan. — The  Insurrection  Quelled. — Con- 


CONTENTS.  xi 

PAGE 
QTTEST  OF  ASTRTTCHAN. — TlTE  ENGLISH    ExPEDrriON  IN  SEARCH  OP   A  NoRTH-EaST 

Passage  to  India.— The  Establishment  at  Archangel. — Commercial  Rela- 
tions Between  France  and  Russia.- — Russian  Embassy  to  England. — Exten- 
sion OF  Commerce 233 


CHAPTER    XV. 

THE    ABDICATION    OF    IVAN     IV. 

From  155T  to  1582. 

Terror  of  the  Horde  in  Taueide. — "War  with  Gustavus  Vasa  of  Sweden. — 
Political  Punctilios. — The  Kingdom  of  Livonia  Annexed  to  Sweden. — 
Death  of  Anastasia. — Conspiracy  Against  Ivan.— His  Abdication. — His  Re- 
sumption of  the  Crown. — Invasion  of  Russia  by  the  Tartars  and  Turks. 
— Heroism  of  Zebrinow. — Utter  Discomfiture  of  the  Tartars. — Relations 
Between  Queen  Elizabeth  of  England,  and  Russia. — Intrepid  Embassage. 
— New  War  with  Poland.— Disasters  of  Russia.- The  Emperor  Kills  His 
Own  Son. — Anguish  of  Ivan  IV 251 


CHAPTER    X.VI. 

THE    STOPvMS    OF    HEREDITARY    SUCCESSION. 
From  1582  to  1608. 

ANSmSH  AND  De.^TH  OF  IvAN  IV.— HlS  CHARACTER. — FeODOR  AND  DmITRI. — USUR- 
PATION OF  Boris  Gudenow. — The  Polish  Election. — Conquest  of  Siberia. — 
Assassination  of  Dmitri. — Death  of  Feodor. — Boris  Crowned  King. — Con- 
spiracies.— Reappearance  of  Dmitri.— Boris  Poisoned. — The  Pretender 
Crowned. — E.mbarrassments  of  Dmitri. — A  New  Pretender. — Assassination 
of  Dmitrl— Crowning  of  Zuski. — Indignation  of  Poland. — Historical  Ro- 
mance   268 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

A    CHANGE    OF    DYNASTY. 

From  160S  to  1680. 

Oonque-sts  by  Poland. — Sweden  in  Alliance  with  Russia. — Grandeur  of 
Poland. — Ladislauh  Elected  Kino  of  Russia. — Commotions  and  Insurrec- 
tions.— Re.)ectii)N  of  Ladislaus  and  Election  of  Michael  Feodor  Romanow. 
— Sorrow  ok  His  Mother. — Pacific   ('iiara<;ter  of  Romanow. — Cnoi<;E   of  a 

BrIDK. — EUDOCHIA  STRFJiCHNEW. — TlIE  AbCHBISHOP  FeODOR. — DEATH  OF  MlCHAKI, 

AND  Accession  of  Alexis. — Love  in  the  Palace.— SirccEssFUL  Intrigue. — 
Mobs  in  Moscow. — Change  in  the  (Jharacter  of  the  Tzar. — Turkish  Inva- 
sions.— Alliancf.  Betwkf.n  Russia  and  Poland 285 


XU  CONTENTS. 

CHAPTEE     XVIII. 

THE     REGENCY    OF    SOPHIA. 
From  1680  to  169T. 

PAGE 

Apministration  of  Frodoe. — Death  of  Feodor. — Incapacity  op  Ivan. — Suc- 
cession OF  Peter. — Usurpation  of  Sophia. — Insurrection  of  the  Strelitzes. 
— Massacre  in  Moscow. — Success  of  the  Insurrection. — Ivan  and  Peter  De- 
clared Sovereigns  under  the  Kegenct  op  Sophia. — General  Discontent. — 
Conspiracy  against  Sophia. — Her  Flight  to  the  Convent. — The  Conspir- 
acy Quelled. — New  Conspiracy. — Energy  op  Peter. — He  Assumes  the  Crown. 
— Sophia  Banished  to  a  Convent. — Commencement  op  the  Keign  of  Peter..  301 


CHAPTER    XIX. 

PETER     THE     GREAT. 

From  1697  to  1T02. 

TouNG  Russians  Sent  to  Foreign  Countries. — The  Tzar  DEcroES  Upon  a 
Tour  of  Observation. — His  Plan  of  Travel. — Anecdote. — Peter's  Mode  op 
Life  in  Holland. — Characteristic  Anecdotes. — The  Presentation  of  the 
Emb.\ssador. — The  Tzar  Visits  England. — Life  at  Deptford. — Illustrious 
Foreigners  Engaged  in  His  Service. — Peter  Visits  Vienna. — The  Game  op 
Landloud.^Insurrection  in  Moscow. — Return  of  the  Tzar,  and  Measures 
OF  Severity. — War  with  Sweden. — Disastrous  Defeat  of  Narva. — Efforts 
to  Secure  the  Shores  of  the  Baltic. — Designs  Upon  the  Black  Sea 310 


CHAPTER    XX. 

CONQUESTS    AND    ACHIEVEMENTS    OF    PETER    THE    GREAT. 

From  1702  to  171S. 

Peter  takes  Lake  Lagoda  and  the  Neva. — Foundation  op  St.  Petersburg. — 
Conquest  of  Livonia. — Marienburg  taken  by  Storm. — The  Empress  Cath- 
arine.— Extraordinary  Efforts  in  Building  St.  Petersburg. — Threat  op 
Charles  XII. — Deposition  of  Augustus. — Enthronement  of  Stanislaus. — 
Battle  of  Pultowa. — Flight  of  Charles  XII.  to  Turkey. — Increased  Re- 
nown OF  Russia. — Disastrous  Conflict  with  the  Turks. — Marriage  of 
Alexis. — His  Character. — Death  op  his  Wife. — The  Empress  Acknowledged. 
— Conquest  of  Finland. — Tour  op  the  Tzar  to  Southern  Europe 332 


CHAPTER    XXI. 

THE     TRIAL     AND     CONDEMNATION     OF     ALEXIS,     AND     DEATH     OP 
THE    TZAR. 

From  1718  to  1725. 

The  Tzar's  Second  Visit  to  Holland. — Reception  in  France. — Descuiption  op 
Catharine. — Domestic  Grief.— Con nucT  op  Alexis. — Letters  From  His  Fa- 
ther.— Flight  to  Ger.many. — Thenck  to  Naples. — Envoys  Sent  to  Bring  Him 


CONTEXTS.  XUl 

PAfiB 

Back. — Alexis  Excluded  From  the  Sitooession. — Um  Trial  for  Treason. — 
Condemnation  and  Unexpected  Death. — New  Efforts  of  the  Tzar  for  the 
Welfare  of  Khssia. — Sickness  of  Peter. — His  Death. — SaccESSioN  op  the  Em- 
PE.ESS  Catharine. — Epitaph  to  the  E.mperor 3-19 


CHAPTEE    XXII. 

THE    KEIQNS    OF     CA.T1IAKINE    I.,    ANNE,    THE    INFANT     IVAN    ANt? 
ELIZABETH. 

From  1725  to  1762. 

Energetic  Keign  op  Catharine. — Her  Sudden  Death. — Brief  Eeign  op  Peter 
II. — Difficulties  of  Heredit.vry  Succession. — A  Republic  Contemplated. — 
Anne,  Daughter  of  Ivan. — The  Infant  Ivan  Pp.oolaimed  King. — Hls  Terri- 
ble Doom. — Elizabeth,  Daughter  of  Peter  tub  Great,  Enthroned. — -Charac- 
ter OF  Elizabeth. — Alliance  with  Makia  Theresa. — Wars  with  Prussia. — 
Great  Reverses  of  Frederic  of  Prussia. — Desperate  Condition  of  Frederic, 
— Death  of  Elizabeth. — Succession  of  Peter  III 864 


CHAPTER    XXIII. 

PETER    III.    AND    HIS    BRIDE. 

From  1728  to  1762. 

LiNEAOs  OP  Peter  III. — Chosen  by  Elizabeth  as  Her  Successor. — The  Buidf. 
Chosen  for  Peter. — Her  Lineage. — The  Courtship. — The  Marriage. — Auto- 
biography op  Catharine. — Anecdotes  of  Peter. — His  Neglect  op  Catharine 
and  His  Debaucheries. — Amusements  ok  the  Russian  Court. — Military  Ex- 
ecution op  a  Rat. — Accession  op  Pf.teu  III.  to  the  Throne. — Sui'rkma<;y  of 
Catharine. — Her  Repudiation  Threatened. — The  Conspiracy. — Its  Success- 
ful Accomplishment :;T9 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

THE  CONSPIRACY;  AND  ACCESSION  OP  CATHARINE  IT. 

From  1762  to  17C5. 

Peter  III.  at  Oranienbaum. — Catharine  at  Peterhof. — The  Successful  Ac- 
complishment OP  THE  Conspiracy. — Terror  op  Peter. — His  Vacillating  and 
Feeble  Character. — Flight  to  Cronstadt. — Repulse. — Heroic  Counsel  op 
Munich. — Peter's  Return  to  Oranienbaum. — His  Suppliant  Letters  to  Cath- 
arine—His Arri'xt. — Imprisonment. — .\8Sassination. — Proclamation  ok  the 
Empres-s.— Hkr  Complicity  in  the  Crime. — Energy  op  Catharine's  Adminis- 
tration.— Her  Expansive  Views  and  Sagacious  Policy.— Contemplated  Mar- 
riage WITH  Count  Orlop > ^34 


XIV  CONTENTS 

CHAPTER    XXV. 

REIGN    OP     CATHARINE     II. 

From  1765  to  1774. 

PA6B 

Energy  of  Catharine's  Administration. — Titles  of  Honor  Decrf.ed  to  Her. 
— Code  of  Laws  Instituted. — The  Assassination  of  the  E.mpress  Attempted. 
— Encouragement  of  Learned  Men. — Catharine  Inoculated  fob  the  Small- 
Pox. — New  War  with  Turkey. — Capture  of  the  Crimea. — S.4.iling  of  the 
Russian  Fleet. — Great  Naval  Victory. — Visit  of  the  Prussian  Prince 
Henry. — The  Sleigh  EidI:. — Plans  for  the  Partition  of  Poland. — The  Hee- 
mitage. — Marriage  of  the  Grand  Duke  Paul. — Correspondence  witu  Vol- 
taire AND  Diderot 409 


CHAPTER    XXVI. 

REIGN    OF    CATHARINE    II. 

From  1774  to  17S1. 

Peace  with  Turkey. — Court  of  Catharine  II. — Her  Personal  Appearance 
and  Habits. — Conspiracy  and  Rebellion. — Dcfeat  of  the  Rebels.— Mag- 
nanimity OF  Catharine  1 1. — Ambition  of  the  Empress. — Court  Favorite. — 
Division  of  Russia  into  Provinces. — Internal  Lmprovements. — New  Parti- 
tion of  Poland. — Death  of  the  Wife  of  Paul. — Second  Marriage  of 
THE  Grand  Duke. — Splendor  of  the  Russian  Court.— Russia  and  Austria 
Secretly  Combine  to  Drive  the  Turks  out  op  Europe. — The  Emperor 
Joseph  II 425 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

TERMINATION    OF    THE    REIGN    OF    CATHARINE    II. 

From  17S1  to  17S6. 

Statue  of  Peter  the  Great. — Alliance  Between  Austria  and  Russia. — In- 
dependence of  the  Crimea  — The  Kuan  of  the  Crimea. — Vast  Preparations 
FOB  War. — National  Jealousies. — Tolerant  Spirit  op  Catharine. — Magnif- 
icent Excursion  to  the  Crimea. — Co.mmencement  of  Hostilities. — Anecdote 
op  Paul. — Peace. — New  Partition  of  Poland. — Treaty  with  Austria  and 
France.— Hostility  to  Liberty  in  France. — Death  of  Catharine. — Hek 
Cuakacter 439 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

THE     REIGN     OF     PAUL     I. 

From  1796  to  1801. 

Accession  of  Paul  I.  to  the  Throne. — Influence  op  the  Hereditary  Trans- 
mission of  Power. — ExTRA^  aganok  of  Paul. — IIis  Despotism.— The  Horsb 
Court  Martialed.— Progress  of  the  French  Revolution. — Fears  and  Vio- 
lence of   Pauu — Hostility  to   Foreigners. — Russia   Joins   tub    Coalition 


CONTENTS.  XV 

PAQB 
AGAINST  FeAN'CE. — MaKCU    OF    SUWAKROW. — CHARACTER    OP    SUWAUROW. — BAT- 
TLE ON  THE  Adda. — Battle  op  Novi. — So'Warrow   Marches  to  the   Rhine. — 
His  Defeat  and  Death. — Paul  Abandons  the  Coalition  and  Joins  France. 
— Conspiracies  at  St.  Petersburg 464 


CHAPTER    XXIX. 

ASSASSINATION    OF    PAUL    AND    ACCESSION    OP    ALEXANDER. 

From  ISOl  to  1807. 

Assassination  op  Paul  I. — Implication  of  Alexander  in  the  Conspiracy. — 
Anecdotes. — Accbssion  of  Alexander. — The  French  Revolution. — Alexan- 
der Joins  the  Allies  against  France. — State  of  Russia. — Useful  Measures 
of  Alexander. — Peace  of  Amiens. — Renewal  of  Hostilities. — Battle  of 
Austerhtz. — Magnani.mitv  op  Napoleon. — New  Coalition. — Ambition  op 
Alexander. — Battles  op  Jena  and  Eylau.— Defeat  op  the  Russians 469 


CHAPTER    XXX. 

EEION    OF    ALEXANDER    I. 

From  1807  to  1825. 

The  Field  of  Etlau. — Letter  to  the  King  op  Prussia. — Renewal  of  the  War. 
• — Discomfiture  of  the  Allies. — Battle  op  Friedland. — The  Raft  at  Tilsit. 
— Inti.macy  of  the  Emperors. — Alexander's  Designs  upon  Turkey. — Alli- 
ance Between  France  and  RrsstA. — Object  of  tub  Continental  System. — 
Perplexities  of  Alexander. — Driven  by  the  Nobles  to  War. — Results  op 
the  Russian  CampakiN. — Napoleon  Vanquished. — Last  Days  of  Alexander. 
— llis  Sickness  and  Death 485 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

NICHOLAS. 

From  1825  to  1855. 

Abdication  op  Constantine. — Accession  of  Nicholas. — Insitrreotion  Quelled. 
— Nicholas  and  the  Conspirator. — Anecdote. — The  Palace  op  Peterhop. — 
The  Winter  Palace. — Presentation  at  Court. — Magnitude  of  Russia. — De- 
scription OK  the  Hellespont  and  the  Dardanelles. — The  Turkish  Invasion. 
— Aims  <>f  Russia. — Vikws  op  England  and  Franck. — Wars  op  Nicholas. — 
The  Polish  Insurrection. — War  of  the  Crimea. — Jkalousies  of  the  Leading 
Nations. — Encroachments. — Death   of    Nicholas. — Accession    op    Alkxan- 

DBBlI 601 


CHAPTER   I. 

PARENTAGE    AND    BIRTH    OF    RUSSIA. 
From  500  b.  c.  to  a.  d.  910. 

Primeval  Russia.— Explokations  of  the  Gkeeks.— Scythian  Invasion.— Character 
OF  THE  Scythians. — Sar,matia. — Assaults  upon  the  Roman  Empip.e.— Irruption 

OF  THE  AlAINS. — CONQUESTS  OF  TkAJAN.—ThE  QoTUlC  INVASION.— TlIE  II UNS. — TUEIB 

Character  and  Aspect. — The  Devastations  of  Attila.— The   Avars.— Results 

OF  COMMINGLINGS  OF  THESE  TkIBES.— NoR.MANS. — BlliTH    OF   THE  RUSSIAN   EMPIRE.— 

The  Three  Sovereigns  Rurik,  Sineous  and  Truvor.— Adventures  of  Ascolod 
AND  Dir. — Introduction  of  Christianity. — Usurpation  of  Olbg. — His  Con- 
quests.— Expedition  against  Constantinople. 

THOSE  vast  realms  of  northern  Europe,  now  called  Ru.s- 
sia,  have  been  inhabited  for  a  period  beyond  the  records 
of  liistory,  by  wandering  tribes  of  savages.  These  barbaric 
hoides  have  left  no  monuments  of  their  existence.  The  an- 
nals of  Greece  and  of  Rome  simply  inform  us  that  they  were 
there.  Generations  came  and  departed,  passing  through  life's 
tragic  drama,  and  no  one  has  told  their  story. 

About  five  hundred  years  before  the  birth  of  our  Saviour, 
the  Greeks,  sailing  up  the  Bosphorus  and  braving  the  storms 
of  the  Black  Sea,  began  to  plant  their  colonies  along  its 
shores.  Instructed  by  these  colonists,  Herodotus,  who  wrote 
about  four  hundred  and  forty  years  before  Christ,  gives  some 
information  respecting  the  then  condition  of  interior  Russia. 
The  first  great  irruption  into  the  wastes  of  Russia,  of  which 
history  gives  us  any  record,  was  about  one  hundred  years 
before  our  Saviour.  An  immense  multitude  of  conglomerated 
tribes,  taking  the  general  name  of  Scythians,  with  their  wives 
and  their  children,  their  flocks  and  their  herds,  and  their  war- 
riors, fi(;rcer  than  wolves,  crossed  the  Volga,  and  took  posses- 


18  THE     EMPIEK      OF     RUSSIA. 

sion  of  the  whole  country  between  the  Don  and  the  Danube. 
These  barbarians  did  not  molest  the  Greek  colonies,  but,  on 
the  contrary,  were  glad  to  learn  of  them  many  of  the  rudi- 
ments of  civilization.  Some  of  these  tribes  retained  their  an- 
cestral habits  of  wandering  herdsmen,  and,  with  their  flocks, 
traversed  the  vast  and  treeless  plains,  where  they  found  ample 
pasture.  Others  selecting  sunny  and  fertile  valleys,  scattered 
their  seed  and  cultivated  the  soil.  Thus  the  Scythians  were 
divided  into  two  quite  distinct  classes,  the  herdsmen  and  the 
laborers. 

The  tribes  who  then  peopled  the  vast  wilds  of  northern 
Europe  and  Asia,  though  almost  innumerable,  and  of  different 
languages  and  customs,  were  all  called,  by  the  Greeks,  Scy- 
thians, as  we  have  given  the  general  name  of  Indians  to  all 
the  tribes  who  formerly  ranged  the  forests  of  North  Amei'ica. 
The  Scythians  Avere  as  ferocious  a  race  as  earth  has  ever 
known.  They  drank  the  blood  of  tlieir  enemies  ;  tanned  their 
skins  for  garments ;  used  their  skulls  for  drinking  cups ;  and 
worshiped  a  sword  as  the  image  or  emblem  of  their  favorite 
deity,  the  God  of  War.  Philip  of  Macedon  was  the  first  who 
put  any  check  upon  their  proud  spirit.  He  conquered  them 
in  a  decisive  battle,  and  thus  taught  them  that  they  were  not 
invincible.  Alexander  the  Great  assailed  them  and  spread 
the  terror  of  his  arms  throughout  all  the  region  between  the 
Danube  and  the  Dnieper.  Subsequently  the  Roman  legions 
advanced  to  the  Euxine,  and  planted  their  eagles  upon  the 
heights  of  the  Caucasus. 

The  Roman  historians  seem  to  have  dropped  the  Scytliian 
name,  and  they  called  the  whole  northern  expanse  of  Europe 
and  Asia,  Sarmatia,  and  the  barbarous  inhabitants  Sarmatians. 
About  the  time  of  our  Saviour,  some  of  these  fierce  tribes 
from  the  banks  of  the  Th^iss  and  the  Danube,  commenced 
their  assaults  upon  the  frontiers  of  the  Roman  empii-e.  This 
was  the  signal  for  that  war  of  centuries,  which  terminated  in 
the   overthrow  of  the  throne   of  the   Caesars.      The  Romnn 


PAKE  NT  AGE      AND     BIRTH      OF      RUSSIA.         19 

Senate,  enervated  by  luxury,  condescended  to  purchase  peace 
of  these  barbarians,  and  nations  of  savages,  whose  names  are 
now  forgotten,  exacted  tribute,  under  guise  of  payment  for 
alliance,  from  the  proud  empire.  But  neither  bribes,  nor 
alliances,  nor  the  sword  in  the  hands  of  enervated  Rome, 
could  effectually  check  the  incursions  of  these  bands,  who 
Avere  ever  emerging,  like  wolves,  from  the  mysterious  depths 
of  the  Xorth. 

In  the  haze  of  those  distant  times  and  remote  realms,  we 
catch  dim  glimpses  of  locust  legions,  emerging  from  the 
plains  and  the  ravines  between  the  Black  Sea  and  the  Caspian, 
and  sweeping  like  a  storm  cloud  over  nearly  all  of  what  is 
now  called  Russia.  These  people,  to  whom  tlie  name  of 
Alains  was  given,  had  no  fixed  habitations;  they  conveyed 
their  women  and  children  in  rude  carts.  Their  devastations 
were  alike  extended  over  Europe  and  Asia,  and  in  the  fero- 
city of  their  assaults  they  were  as  insensible  to  death  as  wild 
beasts  could  be. 

In  the  second  century,  the  emperor  Trajan  conquered  and 
took  possession  of  the  province  of  Dacia,  which  included  all 
of  lower  Hungary,  Transylvania,  Moldavia,  Wallachia  and 
Bessarabia.  Tlie  country  was  divided  into  Roman  provinces, 
over  each  of  wiiieh  a  prefect  was  established.  In  the  third 
century,  the  Goths,  from  the  shores  of  the  Baltic,  came 
rushing  over  the  wide  arenn,  with  tlie  howling  of  wolves  antl 
their  gnashing  of  teeth.  They  trampled  down  all  ojiposition, 
with  tlieii'  war  knives  drove  out  the  Romans,  crossed  the 
Black  Sea  in  their  rude  vessels,  and  spread  conflagration  and 
death  throughout  the  most  flourishing  cities  and  villages  of 
Bythinia,  Gallacia  and  Cappadocia.  Tiie  famous  teni}ile  of 
Diana  at  Ephesus,  these  barbarians  committed  to  the  flames. 
They  overran  all  Greece  and  took  Athens  by  storm.  As  they 
were  about  to  destroy  the  precious  libraries  of  Athens,  one  ot 
their  chieftains  said, 

"  Let   us  leave   to  the  Greeks  tlieir  books,   that  tiiey,  in 


20  TUE     JSMI'IKIS      OF     RUSSIA. 

reading  them  may  forget  the  arts  of  war  ;  and  that  we  thus 
may  more  easily  be  able  to  hold  them  in  subjection." 

These  Goths  established  an  empire,  extending  from  the 
Black  Sea  to  the  Baltic,  and  which  embraced  nearly  all  of 
what  is  now  European  Russia.  Towards  the  close  of  the 
fourth  centuiy,  another  of  these  appalling  waves  of  barbaric 
inundation  rolled  over  northern  Europe.  The  Huns,  emerging 
from  the  northern  frontiers  of  China,  traversed  the  inmiense 
intervening  deserts,  and  swept  over  European  Russia,  spread- 
ing everywhere  flames  and  desolation.  The  historians  of  that 
day  seetn  to  find  no  language  sufficiently  forcible  to  describe 
the  hideousness  and  the  ferocity  of  these  savages.  They 
pressed  down  on  the  Roman  empii-e  as  merciless  as  wolves, 
and  the  Cajsars  turned  pale  at  the  recital  of  their  deeds  of 
blood. 

It  is  indeed  a  revolting  picture  which  contemporaneous 
liistory  gives  us  of  these  barbarians.  In  their  faces  was  con- 
centrated the  ugliness  of  the  hyena  and  the  baboon.  They 
tattooed  their  cheeks,  to  prevent  the  growth  of  their  beards. 
They  were  short,  thick-set,  and  with  back  bones  curved 
almost  into  a  semicircle.  Herbs,  roots  and  raw  meat  they 
devoured,  tearing  their  food  with  their  teeth  or  hewing  it 
with  their  swords.  To  warm  and  soften  their  meat,  they 
placed  it  under  their  saddles  when  riding.  Nearly  all  their 
lives  they  passed  on  horseback.  Warjdering  incessnntly  over 
the  vast  plains,  they  had  no  fixed  habitations,  but  warmly 
clad  in  the  untanned  skins  of  beasts,  like  the  beasts  they  slept 
wherever  the  night  found  tliem.  They  had  no  religion  nor 
laws,  no  conception  of  ideas  of  honor;  their  language  Avas  a 
wretched  jargon,  and  in  their  natui-e  there  seemed  to  be  no 
moral  sense  to  which  compassion  or  mercy  could  plead. 

Such  were  the  IIi^is  as  described  by  the  ancient  histoi-i- 
ans.  The  Goths  struggled  against  them  in  vain.  Tliey  were 
crushed  and  subjugated.  The  king  of  tlie  Goths,  Hernumric, 
iu  chagrin  and  despair,  committed  suicide^  that  he  might  es- 


PARENTAGE      AND     15  I  K  T  II      OF      RUSSIA.         21 

capo  slavery.  Tliousands  of  the  Goths,  in  tlioir  terror, 
crowded  down  into  the  lloraan  province  of  Thrace,  now  the 
Turkish  province  of  Romania.  Tlie  empire,  then  in  its  deca- 
dence, could  not  drive  them  hack,  and  they  obtained  a  jier- 
manent  foothold  there.  The  Iluns  tlius  attained  the  suprem- 
acy throughout  all  of  northern  Europe.  There  were  then 
very  many  tribes  of  diverse  names  peopling  these  vast  realms, 
and  incessant  wars  were  waged  between  them.  The  domina- 
tion wlncli  the  Huns  attained  was  precarious,  and  not  dis- 
tinctly defined. 

The  terrible  Attila  ere  long  appears  as  the  king  of  these 
Huns,  about  the  middle  of  the  fifth  century.  This  wonderful 
barbarian  extended  his  sway  from  the  Volga  to  the  Rhine, 
and  from  the  Bosphorus  to  the  shores  of  the  Baltic.  Where- 
ever  he  appeared,  blood  flowed  in  torrents.  He  swept  the 
valley  of  the  Danube  with  flame  and  sword,  destroying  cities, 
fortresses  and  villages,  and  converting  the  whole  region  into 
a  desert.  At  the  head  of  an  army  of  seven  hundred  thousand 
men,  he  plunged  all  Europe  into  dismay.  Both  the  Eastern 
and  Western  empire  were  compelled  to  pay  him  tribute.  He 
even  invaded  Gaul,  and  upon  the  plains  of  Chalons  was  de- 
feated in  one  of  the  most  bloody  battles  ever  fought  in  Eu- 
rope, Contemporary  historians  record  that  one  hundred  and 
six  thousand  dead  were  left  upon  tlie  field.  With  the  death 
of  Attila,  the  supremacy  of  the  Huns  vanished.  The  irrup- 
tion of  the  Huns  was  a  devastating  scourge,  which  terrified 
the  world.  Whole  nations  were  exterminated  in  their  march, 
until  at  last  the  horrible  apparition  disappeared,  almost  as 
suddenly  as  it  arose. 

With  the  disappearance  of  the  Huns,  central  Russia  j^re- 
sents  to  us  the  aspect  of  a  vast  Avaste,  thinly  peopled,  witli 
the  wrecks  of  nations  and  tribes,  debased  and  feeble,  living 
upon  the  cattle  they  herded,  and  occasionally  cultivating  the 
soil.  And  now  there  comes  forward  upon  this  theater  of 
violence  and  of  blood  another  people,  called  the  Sclavonians, 


22  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

more  energetic  and  more  intelligent  than  any  who  had  preceded 
them.  The  origin  of  the  Sclavonians  is  quite  lost  in  the  haze 
of  distance,  and  in  the  savage  wilds  where  they  first  appeared. 
Tile  few  traditions  which  have  been  gleaned  respecting  them 
are  of  very  little  authority. 

From  about  the  close  of  the  fifth  century  the  inhabitants 
of  the  whole  region  uow  embraced  by  European  Russia,  were 
called  Sclavonians  ;  and  yet  it  appears  that  these  Sclavonians 
consisted  of  many  nations,  rude  and  warlike,  with  various  dis- 
tinctive names.  They  soon  began  to  crowd  upon  the  Roman 
empii-e,  and  became  moi-e  formidable  than  the  Goths  or  the 
Huns  had  been.  Wading  through  blood  they  seized  province 
after  province  of  the  empire,  destroying  and  massacring 
often  in  mere  wantonness.  The  emperor  Justinian  was  fre- 
quently compelled  to  purchase  peace  with  them  and  to  bribe 
them  to  alliance. 

And  now  came  another  wave  of  invasion,  bloody  and  over- 
whelming. The  Avars,  from  the  north  of  China,  swejjt  over 
Asia,  seized  all  the  provinces  on  the  Black  Sea,  overran 
Greece,  and  took  possession  of  most  of  the  country  between 
the  Volga  and  the  Elbe.  The  Sclavonians  of  the  Danube, 
however,  successfully  resisted  them,  and  maintained  their  in- 
dependence. Generations  came  and  went  as  these  hordes, 
wild,  degraded  and  wretched,  swept  these  northern  wilds,  in 
deliasement  and  cruelty  rivaling  the  wolves  which  how'led  in 
their  forests.  They  have  left  no  traces  behind  them,  and  the 
few  records  of  their  joyless  lives  which  history  has  preserved, 
are  merely  the  gleanings  of  uncertain  tradition.  The  think- 
ing mind  pauses  in  sadness  to  contemplate  the  spectacle  of 
these  weary  ages,  when  his  brother  man  was  the  most  fero- 
cious of  beasts,  and  when  all  the  discipline  of  life  tended  only 
to  sink  him  into  deeper  abysses  of  brutality  and  misery. 
There  is  here  a  problem  in  the  divine  government  which  no 
human  wisdom  can  solve.  There  is  consolation  only  in  the 
announcement  that  what  we  know  not  now,  w^e  shall  know 


PARENTAGE     AND      BIRTH      OF      RUSSIA.         23 

hereatter.  All  these  diverse  nations  blending  liave  Ibrmed 
the  present  liussians. 

Along  the  shores  of  the  Baltic,  these  people  assumed  the 
uaiue  of  Scandinavians,  and  subsequently  Normans.  Toward 
the  close  of  the  eighth  century,  the  Normans  filled  Europe 
\\ith  the  renown  of  their  exploits,  and  their  banners  bade 
defiance  even  to  the  armies  of  Charlemagne.  Early  in  the 
ninth  century  they  ravaged  France,  Italy,  Scotland,  England, 
and  passed  over  to  Ireland,  where  they  built  cities  which  re- 
main to  the  present  day.  "There  is  no  manner  of  doubt," 
writes  M.  Karamsin  in  his  history  of  Russia,  "  that  five  hun- 
dred years  before  Christopher  Columbus,  they  had  discovered 
North  America,  and  instituted  commerce  with  the  natives." 

It  is  not  until  the  middle  of  the  ninth  century,  that  we 
obtain  any  really  reliable  information  respecting  the  inhabit- 
ants of  central  Russia.  They  are  described  as  a  liglit-com- 
plexioned,  flaxen-haired  race,  robust,  and  capable  of  great 
endurance.  Their  huts  were  cheerless,  affording  but  little 
shelter,  and  they  lived  upon  the  coarsest  food,  often  devouring 
their  meat  raw.  The  Greeks  expressed  astonishment  at  their 
agility  in  climbing  precipitous  cliffs,  and  admired  the  hardi- 
hood with  which  they  plunged  through  bogs,  and  swam  the 
most  rapid  and  swollen  streams.  He  who  had  the  most  ath- 
letic vigor  was  the  greatest  man,  and  all  the  ambition  and 
energy  of  the  nation  were  expended  in  the  acquisition  of 
strength  and  agility. 

They  are  ever  described  as  strangers  to  fear,  rushing  un- 
thinkingly upon  certain  death.  They  were  always  ready  to 
accept  combat  with  the  Roman  legions.  Entire  strangers  to 
military  strategy,  they  made  no  attacks  in  drilled  lines  or 
columns,  but  the  whole  tumultuous  mass,  in  wild  disorder 
ruslied  upon  the  foe,  with  the  most  desperate  daring,  having 
no  guide  but  their  own  ferocity  and  the  chieftains  who  led 
small  bands.  Their  weapons  consisted  of  swords,  javelins  and 
l>oisoned  arrows,  and  each  man  carried  a  heavy  shield.     As 


24  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

they  crossed  the  Danube  in  their  bloody  forays,  incited  by 
love  of  pkmder,  the  inhabitants  of  the  Koman  villages  fled 
before  them.  When  pursued  by  an  invincible  force  they 
would  relinquish  life  rather  than  their  booty,  even  when  the 
plunder  was  of  a  kind  totally  valueless  in  their  savage  homes. 
The  ancient  annals  depict  in  aj^palling  colors  the  cruelties 
they  exercised  upon  their  captives.  They  were,  however,  as 
patient  in  endurance  as  they  were  merciless  in  infliction. 
No  keenness  of  torture  could  force  from  them  a  cry  of 
pain. 

Yet  these  people,  so  ferocious,  are  described  as  remark- 
ably arainble  among  themselves,  seldom  quarreling,  honest 
and  truthful,  and  practicing  hospitality  with  truly  patriarchal 
grace.  Whenever  they  left  home,  the  door  was  unfastened 
and  food  was  left  for  any  chance  wayfarer.  A  guest  was 
treated  as  a  heavenly  messenger,  and  was  guided  on  his  way 
with  the  kindest  expressions  for  his  welfare. 

The  females,  as  in  all  barbaric  countries,  were  exposed  to 
every  indignity.  All  the  hard  labor  of  life  was  thrown  upon 
them.  When  the  husband  died,  the  widow  was  compelled  to 
cast  herself  upon  the  funeral  pile  which  consumed  his  remains. 
It  is  said  that  this  barbarous  custom,  which  Christianity  abol- 
ished, was  introduced  to  prevent  the  wife  ""om  secretly  kill- 
ing her  husband.  The  wife  was  also  regarded  as  the  slave  of 
the  husband,  and  they  imagined  that  if  she  died  at  the  same 
time  with  her  husband,  she  would  serve  him  in  another  world. 
The  wives  often  followed  their  husbands  to  the  wars.  From 
infuicy  the  boys  were  trained  to  fight,  and  were  taught  that 
nothing  was  more  disgraceful  than  to  forgive  an  injury. 

A  mother  was  permitted,  if  she  wished,  to  destroy  her 
female  children  ;  but  the  boys  were  all  preserved  to  add  to 
the  military  strength  of  the  nation.  It  was  lawful,  also,  for 
the  children  to  put  their  parents  to  death  when  they  had 
become  infirm  and  useless,  "  Behold,"  exclaims  a  Russian 
historian,  "  how   a  peoi:)le  naturally  kind,  when  deprived  of 


PARENTAGE     AND     BIRTH      OF      RUSSIA.         '25 

tlie  liglit  of  revelation  can  remorselessly  outrage  nature,  and 
surpass  in  cruelty  the  most  ferocious  animals." 

In  dilfercnt  sections  of  this  vast  region  there  were  difler- 
ent  degrees  of  debasemeut,  influenced  by  causes  no  longer 
known,  A  tribe  called  Drevliens,  Nestor  states,  lived  in 
the  most  gloomy  forests  with  the  beasts  and  like  the  beasts. 
They  ate  any  food  which  a  pig  would  devour,  and  had  as  little 
idea  of  marriage  as  have  sheep  or  goats.  Among  the  Scla- 
vonians  generally  there  appears  to  have  been  no  aristocracy. 
Each  family  was  an  independent  republic.  Different  tribes 
occasionally  met  to  consult  upon  questions  of  common  in- 
tei-est,  when  the  men  of  age,  and  who  had  acquired  reputation 
for  wisdom,  guided  in  counsel. 

Gradually  during  the  progress  of  their  wars  an  aristocracy 
arose.  Warriors  of  renown  became  chiefs,  and  created  for 
themselves  posts  of  authority  and  honor.  By  prowess  and 
[(hinder  they  acquired  wealth.  In  their  incursions  into  the 
emjiire,  they  saw  the  architecture  of  Greece  and  Rome,  and 
thus  incited,  they  began  to  rear  castles  and  foitresses.  He 
who  was  recognized  as  the  leading  wai  lior  in  time  of  battle, 
retained  his  authority  in  the  days  of  peace,  which  were  very 
few.  The  castle  became  necessary  for  the  defense  of  the 
tribe  or  clan,  and  the  chieftain  became  the  feudal  noble,  in- 
vested with  unlimited  power.  At  one  time  every  man  who 
was  rich  enough  to  own  a  horse  was  deemed  a  noble.  The 
first  power  recognized  was  only  military  authority.  But  the 
progress  of  civilization  developed  .the  absolute  necessity  of 
other  powers  to  protect  the  weak,  to  repress  crime,  and  to 
guide  in  the  essential  steps  of  nations  emerging  from  dark- 
ness into  light.  With  all  nations  advancing  from  barbarism, 
the  process  has  ever  been  slow  by  which  the  civil  authority 
has  been  separated  from  the  military.  It  is  impossible  to 
educe  from  the  chaos  of  tliose  times  any  established  ])ririei- 
ples.  Often  the  duke  or  leader  was  chosen  with  imposing 
cei'emonies.    Some  men  of  commanding  abililics  would  gatlur 


20  THE      E  M  P  I  K  !■:      OF      RUSSIA. 

into  iheir  hands  the  reins  of  ahiiost  unlimited  power,  and 
would  transmit  that  power  to  theii-  sons.  Others  were  chiefs 
but  in  name. 

We  liave  but  dim  glimpses  of  the  early  religion  of  tliis 
people.  In  the  sixth  century  they  are  represented  as  regard- 
ing with  awe  the  deity  whom  they  designated  as  the  cieator 
of  thunder.  The  spectacle  of  the  majestic  storms  which  swept 
their  plains  and  the  lightning  bolts  hurled  from  an  invisible 
hand,  deeply  impressed  these  untutored  people.  They  en- 
deavored to  appease  the  anger  of  the  supreme  being  by  the 
sacrifice  of  bulls  and  other  animals.  They  also  peopled  the 
groves,  the  fountains,  the  rivers  with  deities ;  statues  were 
rudely  chiseled,  into  which  they  supposed  the  spirits  of  tlieir 
gods  entered,  and  which  they  worshiped.  They  deemed  the 
supreme  being  himself  too  elevated  for  direct  human  adora- 
tion, and  only  ventured  to  approach  him  through  gods  of  a 
secondary  ordei-.  They  believed  in  a  fallen  spirit,  a  god  of 
evil,  who  was  tlie  author  of  all  the  calamities  which  afflict  the 
human  race. 

The  polished  Gi-eeks  chiseled  their  idols,  from  snow-white 
marble,  into  the  most  exquisite  proportions  of  the  human  forn^. 
Many  they  invested  with  all  the  charms  of  loveliness,  and  vu- 
dowed  them  with  the  most  amiable  attributes.  The  voluptu- 
ous Venus  and  the  laurel-crowned  Bacchus  were  their  gods. 
But  the  Sclavonians,  regarding  their  deities  only  as  possessors 
of  power  and  objects  of  terror,  carved  their  idols  gigantic  in 
stature,  and  hideous  in  aspect. 

From  these  rude,  scattered  and  discordant  i)opulations,  the 
emj)ii-e  of  Russia  quite  suddenly  sp>rang  into  being.  Its  birth 
was  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  evi-nls  history  has  trans- 
mitted to  us.  We  have  seen  that  the  Normans,  dwelling 
along  the  southern  and  eastern  shares  of  the  Baltic,  and 
visiting  the  most  distant  coasts  with  their  conuneiciul  and 
predatory  fleets,  had  attained  a  degree  of  power,  intelligence 
and  cultui'c,   which   gave  them   a  decided  preeminence  over 


P  A  li  li  ^'  T  A  G  K      AND     B  I  It  T  II      OF     K  U  S  S  I  A  .        2  < 

tile    tribes    who    were    scattered    over    tlie    wilds   of  central 
Russia. 

A  Sclavonian,  whose  name  tradition  says  was  Gostomysle, 
a  man  far  superior  to  his  countrymen  in  intelligence  and  saga- 
city, deploring  the  anarchy  which  reigned  everywhere  around 
him,  and  admiring  the  superior  civilization  of  the  Normans, 
persuaded  several  tribes  unitedly  to  send  an  embassy  to  the 
Xormans  to  solicit  of  them  a  king.  The  embassy  was  accom- 
panied by  a  strong  force  of  these  fierce  warriors,  who  knew 
well  how  to  light,  but  who  had  become  conscious  that  they 
did  not  know  how  to  govern  themselves.  Their  message  was 
laconic  but  explicit : 

"Our  country,"  said  they,  "is  grand  and  fertile,  l)ut  untler 
the  reign  of  disorder.  Come  and  govern  us  and  reign  over 
us." 

Three  brothers,  named  Rurik,  Sincous  and  Truvor,  illus- 
trious both  by  birth  and  achievetpents,  consented  to  assume 
the  sovereignty,  each  over  a  third  part  of  the  united  appli- 
cants; each  engaging  to  cooperate  with  and  uphold  the  others. 
Escorted  by  the  armed  retinue  which  had  come  to  receive 
them,  they  left  their  native  shores,  and  entered  the  wilds  of 
Scandinavia.  Rui-ik  established  himself  at  Novgorod,  on  lake 
Ihnen.  Sineous,  advancing  some  three  hundred  miles  further, 
north-cast,  took  his  station  at  Bielo  Ozero,  on  the  shores  of 
lake  BitHo.  Ti-uvor  went  some  hundred  miles  further  south 
to  Truvor,  in  the  vicinity  of  Smolensk. 

Thus  there  were  tiiiee  sovereigns  established  in  Russia, 
united  by  the  ties  of  interest  and  consanguinity.  It  was  then 
that  this  region  acquired  the  name  of  Russia,  from  the  Nor- 
man tribe  who  furnished  these  three  sovereigns.  The  Russia 
which  thus  emerged  into  being  was  indeed  an  infant,  com- 
pared with  the  gigantic  empiie  in  this  day  of  its  growing  and 
vigorous  manhood.  It  embraced  then  but  a  few  thousand 
square  miles,  being  all  included  in  the  present  provinces  of 
St.  Petersburg,  Novgorod  and  Pskov.     But  two  years  passed 


28  THE      E  M  P  I  K  E      OF     RUSSIA, 

away  ere  Sineous  and  Truvor  ilioil,  ami  Rmik  united  their 
territories  witli  liis  own,  and  thus  established  the  Russian 
monarchy.  The  realms  of  Rurik  giew  rapidly  by  annexa- 
tio.;i,  and  soon  extended  east  some  two  hundred  miles  beyond 
where  Moscow  now  stands,  to  the  head  waters  of  the  Volga. 
They  were  bounded  on  the  south-west  by  the  Dwina.  On  the 
north  they  reached  to  the  wild  wastes  of  arctic  snows.  Over 
these  distant  provinces,  Rurik  established  governors  selected 
from  his  own  nation,  the  N^ormans.  These  provincial  govern- 
oi's  became  feudal  lords ;  and  thus,  with  the  monarchy,  the 
feudal  system  was  implanted. 

Feudality  was  the  natural  first  step  of  a  people  emerging 
from  barbarism.  Tlie  sovereign  rewarded  his  favorites,  or 
compensated  his  servants,  civil  and  military,  by  ceding  to  them 
provinces  of  greater  or  less  extent,  with  unlimited  authority 
over  the  people  subject  to  their  control.  These  lords  acknowl- 
edged fealty  to  the  sovereign,  paid  a  stipulated  amount  of  trib- 
ute, and,  in  case  of  war,  were  bound  to  enter  the  field  with 
a  given  number  of  men  in  defense  of  the  crown.  It  was  a 
system  essential,  perhaps,  to  those  barbarous  times  when  there 
was  no  easy  communication  between  distant  regions,  no  codes 
of  laws,  and  no  authority,  before  which  savage  men  would 
bow,  but  that  of  the  sword. 

At  this  time  two  young  Norman  nobles,  inspired  with  that 
love  of  war  and  spirit  of  adventure  which  characterized  their 
countrymen,  left  the  court  of  Rurik  at  Novgorod,  where  they 
had  been  making  a  visit,  and  with  well-armed  retainers,  com- 
menced a  journey  to  Constantinople  to  offer  their  services  to 
the  emperor.  It  was  twelve  hundred  miles,  directly  soutli, 
from  Novgorod  to  the  imperial  city.  The  adventurers  had 
advanc(Hl  about  half  way,  when  they  arrived  at  a  little  village, 
called  Kief,  upon  the  banks  of  the  Dnieper.  The  location  of 
the  city  was  so  beautiful,  u[)On  a  commanding  bluff,  at  the 
head  of  the  navigation  of  this  maJ!'stic  stream,  and  the  region 
ai"Ound  seemed  so  attractive,  that  the  NoiMuan  adventurers. 


PARENT  AGE     AND      BIRTH      OF      RUSSIA.  29 

Ascolod  and  Dir  by  name,  flccided  to  remain  tlieie.  They 
were  soon  joined  by  others  of  their  warlike  countrymen.  The 
natives  appear  to  have  made  no  opposition  to  tl\eir  rule,  and 
thus  Kief  became  the  center  of  a  new  and  independent  Rus- 
sian kingdom.  These  energetic  men  rapidly  extended  their 
territories,  raised  a  large  army,  which  was  thoroughly  drilled 
in  all  the  science  of  Norman  warfare,  and  then  audaciously 
declared  war  against  Greece  and  attempted  its  subjugation. 
The  Dnieper,  navigable  for  boats  most  of  the  distance  from 
Kief  to  the  Euxine,  favored  their  enterprise.  They  launched 
upon  the  stream  two  hundred  barges,  which  they  tilled  with 
their  choicest  troops.  Rapidly  they  floated  down  the  stream, 
spread  their  sails  upon  the  bosom  of  the  Euxine,  enter^Ml  the 
Bosporus,  and  anchoring  their  fleet  at  the  mouth  of  the 
Golden  Horn,  laid  siege  to  the  city.  The  Emperor  Michael 
III.  then  reigned  at  Constantino]jle.  Tliis  Northmen  invasion 
was  entirely  unexpected,  and  the  emperor  was  absent,  en- 
gaged in  war  with  the  Ai-abs.  A  courier  was  immediately  dis- 
patched to  inform  him  of  the  peril  of  the  city.  He  hastily 
returned  to  his  capital  which  he  finally  reached,  after  eluding, 
with  much  difticulty,  the  vigilance  of  the  besiegers.  Just  as 
the  inliabitants  of  the  city  were  yielding  to  despair,  there 
arose  a  tempest,  which  swept  the  Bosporus  with  resistless 
fury.  The  crowded  barges  were  dashed  against  each  other, 
shattered,  wrecked  and  sunk.  The  Christians  of  Constan- 
tinople justly  attributed  their  salvation  to  the  interposition 
of  God.  Ascolod  and  Dir,  with  tlie  wrecks  of  their  army, 
returned  in  chagrin  to  Kief. 

The  historians  of  tiiat  period  relate  that  the  idolatrous 
Russians  were  so  terrified  by  this  display  of  the  divine  dis- 
j)leasure  that  tliey  immediately  sent  embassadors  to  Constan- 
tinople, professing  their  readiness  to  embrace  Christianity, 
and  asking  that  they  might  receive  the  rite  of  bai)tism. 
In  attestation  of  the  fad  that  C-hristianity  at  this  jieriod 
entered    Russia,    we    are    rcfeired    to    a    well    authenticated 


30  THE     EMPIRE      OF     BUSSIA. 

letter,  of  the  patriarch  Photius,  u-ritten  at  the  close  of  the 
year  86G. 

"The  Russians,"  he  says,  "so  celebrated  for  their  cruelty, 
conquerors  of  their  neighbors,  and  Nvho,  in  their  pride,  dareil 
to  attack  the  Roman  empire,  have  already  renounced  their  su- 
perstitions, and  have  embraced  the  religion  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Lately  our  most  formidable  enemies,  they  have  now  become 
our  most  faithful  friends.  We  have  recently  sent  them  a 
bishop  and  a  priest,  and  they  testify  the  greatest  zeal  for 
Christianity." 

It  was  in  this  way,  it  seems,  tliat  the  religion  of  our 
Saviour  first  entered  barbaric  Russia.  The  gospel,  thus  wel- 
comed, soon  became  firmly  established  at  Kief,  and  rapidly 
extended  its  conquests  in  all  directions.  The  two  Russian 
kingdoms,  that  of  Ruiik  in  the  north,  and  that  of  Ascolod  and 
Dir  on  the  Dnieper,  rapidly  extended  as  these  enterprising 
kings,  by  arms,  subjected  adjacent  nations  to  their  sway. 
Rurik  remained  upon  the  throne  fifteen  years,  and  then  died, 
surrendering  his  crown  to  his  son  Igor,  still  a  child.  A  rela- 
tive, Oleg,  was  intrusted  with  the  regency,  during  the  mi- 
nority of  the  boy  king.  Such  was  the  state  of  Russia  in  the 
year  879. 

In  that  dark  and  cruel  age,  Avar  was  apparently  the  only 
thought,  military  conquest  the  only  glory.  The  regent,  Oleg, 
takiog  with  him  the  young  prince  Igor,  immediately  set  out 
with  a  large  army  on  a  career  of  conquest.  Marching  directly 
south  some  hundred  miles,  and  taking  possession  of  all  the 
country  by  the  way,  he  arrived  at  last  at  the  head  waters  of 
the  Dnieper.  The  renown  of  the  kingdom  of  Ascolod  and 
Dir  had  reached  his  ears  ;  and  aware  of  their  militai-y  skill 
and  tliat  the  ranks  of  their  army  were  filled  with  Norman 
warriors,  Oleg  decided  to  seize  the  two  sovereigns  by  strata- 
gem. As  he  cautiously  ap])roached  Kief,  he  left  his  army  in 
a  secluded  encampment,  and  with  a  few  chosen  troops  fioated 
down    tiie    sti'cam    in    barges,    disguised    as   merchant    boats. 


PARE  KT  AGE      AND     BIRTH      OF     RUSSIA.         31 

L:in<ling-  in  tlu"  niglit  1  eiieatb  the  liigli  and  precipitous  banks 
near  tlie  town,  lie  placed  a  number  of  liis  soldiers  in  ambus- 
cade, and  then  calling  upon  the  princes  of  Kief,  informed 
them  that  he  had  been  sent  by  the  king  of  Novgorod,  with  a 
commercial  adventure  down  the  Dnieper,  and  invited  them  to 
visit  his  barges. 

The  two  sovereigns,  suspecting  no  guile,  hastened  to  the 
banks  of  the  ri\er.  Suddenly  the  men  in  ambush  rose,  and 
piercing  them  with  arrows  and  javelins,  they  both  fell  dead  at 
tlie  feet  of  Oleg.  The  two  victims  of  this  perfidy  were  im- 
mediately l>uried  upon  the  spot  where  they  fell.  In  com- 
memoration of  this  atrocity,  the  church  of  St.  Nicholas  has 
been  erected  near  the  place,  and  even  to  the  present  day 
the  inhabitants  of  Kief  conduct  the  traveler  to  the  tomb  of 
Ascolod  and  Dir.  Oleg,  now  marshaling  lii:^  firmy,  marched 
triumphantly  into  the  town,  and,  without  experiencing  any 
formidable  opposition,  annexed  the  conquered  realm  to  the 
northern  kingdom. 

Oleg  was  charmed  with  his  conquest.  The  beautiful  site  of 
the  town,  the  broad  expanse  of  the  river,  the  fiicilities  whicii 
the  stream  presented  for  maritime  and  military  adventures 
so  delighted  him  that  he  exclaimed, 

"  Let  Kief  be  the  mother  of  all  the  Russian  cities." 

Oleg  established  his  army  in  cantonments,  strengthened  it 
with  fresh  recruits,  commenced  predatory  excursions  on  every 
side,  and  soon  brought  the  whole  region,  for  many  leagues 
arotmd,  under  his  subjection.  iVIi  the  subjugated  nations 
were  compelled  to  pay  him  tribute,  though,  with  the  sagac- 
ity which  marked  his  whole  coui-se,  he  made  the  tax  so  light 
as  n(jt  to  lie  burdensome.  The  teri'itories  of  Oleg  were  now 
vast,  widely  scattered,  and  with  but  the  ii-ailest  bond  of  unit)n 
between  them.  Between  the  two  capitals  of  Novgoiod  and 
Kief,  which  were  se[)arated  by  a  distance  of  seven  or  eigiit 
hmidred  miles,  there  were  many  ])ovverful  tribes  still  claiming 
independence. 


82  THE      E  ]\r  P  I  R  E      OF      RUSSIA. 

Oleg  directed  his  energies  against  them,  and  his  march  of 
conquest  was  resistless.  In  the  course  of"  two  years  he  estab- 
lished his  undisputed  sway  over  the  whole  region,  and  thus 
opened  unobstructed  communication  between  his  northern 
and  southern  provinces.  He  established  a  chain  of  military 
posts  along  the  line,  and  placed  his  renowned  warriors  in 
feudal  authority  over  numerous  provinces.  Each  lord,  in  his 
castle,  was  supreme  in  authority  over  the  vassals  subject  to 
his  sway.  Life  and  death  were  in  his  hands.  The  fealty  lie 
ov\'ed  his  sovei'eign  was  paid  in  a  small  tribute,  and  in  military 
service  with  an  a})pointed  number  of  soldiers  whom  he  led 
into  the  field  and  supported. 

Having  thus  secured  safety  in  the  north,  Oleg  turned  his 
attention  to  the  south.  With  a  well-disciplined  army,  he 
marched  down  the  left  bank  of  the  river,  sweeping  the  country 
for  an  hundred  miles  in  width,  everywhere  planting  his  ban- 
ners and  establishing  his  simple  and  effective  government  of 
baronial  lords.  It  was  easy  to  weaken  any  formidable  or  sus- 
pected tribe,  by  the  slaughter  of  the  warrioi-s.  Tliere  were 
two  safeguards  against  insurrection.  The  burdens  imposed 
upon  the  vassals  were  so  light  as  to  induce  no  inurmm-iugs; 
and  all  the  feudal  lords  were  united  to  sustain  each  other. 
The  first  movement  towards  rebellion  was  drowned  in  blood. 

Igor,  the  legitimate  sovereign,  had  now  attained  his  ma- 
jority ;  but,  accustomed  as  he  had  long  been,  to  entire  obedi- 
ence, he  did  not  dare  to  claim  the  crown  from  a  regent 
flushed  with  the  l)rilliancy  of  his  achievements,  who  had  all 
power  in  his  hands,  and  who,  by  a  nod,  could  remove  him 
for  ever  out  of  his  way. 

Igor  was  one  day  engaged  in  the  chase,  when  at  the  door 
of  a  cottage,  in  a  small  village  near  Kief^  he  saw  a  young 
peasant  girl,  of  marvelous  grace  and  beauty.  She  was  a 
Norman  girl  of  humble  parentage.  Young  Igor,  inflamed  by 
her  beauty,  immediately  lode  to  the  door  and  addressed  her. 
Her  voice  was  melody,  her  smile  ravishing,  and  in  h.er  replies 


PARENTAGE      AXB     BIRTH      OF      RUSSIA.  33 

to  his  questionings,  she  developed  pride  of  cliaracter,  quick- 
ness of  intelligence  and  invincible  modesty,  which  charmed 
him  and  instantly  won  his  most  passionate  admiration.  The 
young  prince  rode  home  sorely  wounded.  Cupid  had  shot 
one  of  his  most  fiery  arrows  into  the  very  center  of  his  heart. 
Though  many  high-born  ladies  had  been  urged  upon  Igor,  he 
renounced  them  all,  and  allowing  beauty  to  triumph  over 
birth,  honorably  demanded  and  received  the  hand  of  the 
lowly-born  yet  princely-minded  and  lovely  Olga.  They  were 
married  at  Kief  in  the  year  903. 

The  revolution  at  Kief  had  not  interrupted  the  friendly 
relations  existing  between  Kief  and  Constantinople.  The 
Christians  of  the  imperial  city  made  great  efforts,  by  sending 
missionaries  to  Kief,  to  multiply  the  number  of  Cin-istiiwis 
there.  Oleg,  though  a  pagan,  granted  free  toleration,  to 
Christianity,  and  reciprocated  the  presents  and  friendly  mes- 
sages he  received  from  the  emperor.  But  at  length  Oleg, 
having  consolidated  his  realms,  and  ambitions  of  still  greater 
renown,  wealth  and  power,  resolved  boldly  to  declare  war 
against  the  empire  itself,  and  to  march  upon  Constantinople. 
The  warriors  from  a  hundred  tribes,  each  under  their  feudal 
lord,  were  ranged  around  his  banners.  For  miles  along  the 
banks  of  the  Dnieper  at  Kief,  tlie  river  was  covered  with 
barges,  two  thousand  in  number.  An  immense  body  of 
cavalry  accompanied  the  expedition,  following  along  the 
shore. 

The  navigation  of  the  river,  which  poured  its  flood  through 
a  channel  nearly  a  thousand  miles  in  length  from  Kief  to  the 
pjuxine,  was  difficult  and  perilous.  It  required  the  blind,  un- 
thinking courage  of  semi-barbarians  to  inidei'take  such  an  en- 
terj)rise.  There  were  many  cataracts,  down  which  the  fl.tilla 
would  be  swept  over  foaming  billows  and  amidst  jagged  rocks. 
In  many  [daces  the  stream  was  quite  impassable!  by  I)oals, 
and  it  was  necessary  to  take  all  tlie  barges,  with  their  contents, 
on  shore,  and  drag  them  for  miles  through   tlie  tbrest,  again 


34  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

to  launch  them  upon  smoother  water  ;  and  all  this  time  they 
were  exposed  to  attacks  from  numerous  and  ferocious  foes. 
Having  arrived  at  the  mouth  of  the  Dnieper,  they  liad  still 
six  or  eight  hundred  miles  of  navigation  over  the  waves  of 
that  storm-swept  sea.  And  then,  at  the  close,  they  had  to 
encounter,  in  deadly  fight,  all  the  j^ower  of  the  Roman  em- 
pire. But  unintimidated  by  these  perils^  Oleg,  leaving  Igor 
with  his  bride  at  Kief,  launched  his  boats  upon  the  current, 
and  commenced  his  desperate  enterj^rise. 


CHAPTER    II. 

GROWTH    AND    CONSOLIDATION    OF    It  U  SSI  A, 
From  910  to  973. 

Expedition  to  Constantinoplf,.— Treaty  with  tue  Emperok.— Last  Days  of  Olfo.— 
His  Death.— Igor  assumes  the  Scepter.— II is  Expedition  to  the  Don.— Desoent 
CPON  Constantinople.— His  Defeat.— Second  Expedition. — Pusillanimity  of 
THE  Greeks.— Death  op  Igor.— Kegency  of  Oloa.— Her  Character.— Succession 
OF  SviATOSLAF.— His  Impiety  and  Ambition.— Conquest  of  Bulgaria.— Division 
of  THE  Empire. — Defeat,  Ruin  and  Death  of  Sviatoslap.— Civil  Wap,. — Death 

OF  OlEO. — FhOHT  of  VlADLMER. — SUPRE.MACY  OF  TaUOPOLK. 

THE  fleet  of  Oleg  successfully  accomplished  the  navigation 
of  the  Dnieper,  followed  by  the  horse  along  the  shores. 
Each  barge  canied  forty  warriors.  Entering  the  Black  Sea, 
they  spread  their  sails  and  ran  along  the  westei-n  coast  to  the 
mouth  of  the  Bosporus.  The  enormous  armament  approach- 
ing the  imperial  city  of  Constantine  by  sea  and  by  land,  com- 
pletely invested  it.  The  superstitious  Leon,  surnamcd  the 
Philosopher,  sat  then  upon  the  throne.  He  was  a  feeble  man 
engrossed  with  the  follies  of  astrology,  and  without  making 
preparations  for  any  vigorous  defense,  he  contented  himself 
with  sti'etching  a  chain  across  the  Golden  Hoin  to  prevent 
the  hostile  fleet  from  entering  the  harbor.  The  cavalry  of 
Oleg,  encountering  no  serious  opposition,  burnt  and  })liui- 
dered  all  the  neighboring  regions.  The  beautiful  villas  of 
the  wealthy  Greeks,  their  churches  and  villages  all  alike  fell 
a  prey  to  the  flames.  Every  species  of  cruelty  and  barbar- 
ity was  practiced  by  the  ruthless  invaders. 

The  effuminate  Greeks  from  the  walls  of  the  city  gazed 
upon   thi.s   sweep  of  desolntion,  but    ventured    not    in   march 


36  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

from  beliiiid  their  ramparts  to  assail  the  foe.  Oleg  draw  his 
barges  upon  tlie  shore  and  dragged  them  on  wheels  towards 
the  city,  that  he  might  from  them  construct  instruments  and 
engines  for  scaling  the  walls.  The  Greeks  were  so  terrified  at 
this  spectacle  of  energy,  that  they  sent  an  embassage  to  Oleg, 
imploring  peace,  and  oflering  to  pay  liibute.  To  conciliate 
the  invader  they  sent  him  large  presents  of  food  and  wine. 
Oleg,  apjirehensive  that  the  viands  were  poisoned,  refused  to 
accept  them.  He  however  demanded  enormous  tribute  of 
the  emperor,  to  which  terms  the  Greeks  consented,  on  con- 
dition that  Oleg  would  cease  hostilities,  and  return  peaceably 
to  his  country.  Upon  this  basis  of  a  treaty,  the  Russian  army 
retired  to  some  distance  from  the  city,  and  Oleg  sent  four 
commissioners  to  arrange  with  the  emperor  the  details  of 
peace.     The  humiliating  treaty  exacted  was  as  follows  : 

I.  The  Greeks  engage  to  give  twelve  grivnas  to  each 
man  of  the  Russian  army,  and  the  same  sum  to  each  of  the 
warriors  in  the  cities  governed  by  the  dependent  princes  of 
Oleg. 

II.  The  embassadors,  sent  by  Russia  to  Constantinople, 
shall  have  all  their  expenses  defrayed  by  the  emperor.  And, 
moreover,  the  emperor  engages  to  give  to  every  Russian  mer- 
chant in  Greece,  bread,  wine,  meat,  fish  and  fruits,  for  the 
space  of  six  months  ;  to  grant  him  free  access  to  the  public 
baths,  and  to  furnish  him,  on  his  return  to  his  country,  with 
food,  anchors,  sails,  and,  in  a  word,  with  every  thing  he  needs. 

On  the  other  hand  the  Greeks  propose  that  the  Russians, 
who  visit  Constantinople  for  any  other  purposes  than  those  of 
commerce,  shall  not  be  entitled  to  this  supply  of  their  tables. 
The  Russian  prince  shall  foibid  his  embassadors  from  giv- 
ing any  oftense  to  the  iidiabitants  of  the  Grecian  cities  or 
provinces.  The  (piarter  of  Saint  Meme  shall  be  especially  ap- 
propriated to  the  Russians,  who,  upon  their  arrival,  shall 
give  information  to  the  city  council.  Their  names  shall  be 
inscribed,  and    there  shall   be  paid  to  them  evcrv  month   the 


GROWTH     AXD     CONSOLIDATION     OF     RUSSIA.    o7 

i;miis  necessary  for  their  support,  no  matter  t'roiii  what  part  of 
Russia  they  may  have  come.  A  particuhir  gate  sliall  be  des- 
ignated by  which  they  may  enter  the  city,  accompanied  by 
an  imperial  commissary.  Tliey  shall  enter  without  arms,  and 
never  more  than  fifty  at  a  time  ;  and  they  shall  be  permitted, 
freely,  to  engage  in  trade  in  Constantinople  without  the  pay- 
ment of  any  tax. 

This  treaty,  by  which  the  emperor  placed  his  neck  beneath 
the  feet  of  Oleg,  was  ratified  by  the  most  imposing  ceremo- 
nies of  religion.  The  emperor  took  the  oath  upon  the  evan- 
gelists. Oleg  swore  by  his  sword  and  the  gods  of  Russia. 
In  token  of  his  triumph  Oleg  proudly  raised  his  shield,  as  a 
banner,  over  the  battlements  of  Constantinople,  and  returned, 
ladfn  with  riches,  to  Kief,  where  lie  was  received  with  the 
most  extravagant  demonstrations  of  adulation  and  joy. 

The  treaty  thus  made  with  the  emperor,  and  which  is  pre- 
served in  liill  in  the  Russian  annals,  shows  that  the  Russians 
were  no  longer  savages,  but  that  they  had  so  far  emerged 
from  that  gloomy  state  as  to  be  able  to  appreciate  the  sacred- 
ness  of  law,  the  claims  of  honor  and  the  authority  of  treaties. 
It  is  observable  that  no  signatures  are  attached  to  this  treaty 
but  those  of  the  Norman  princes,  which  indicates  that  the 
original  Sclavonic  race  were  in  subjection  as  the  vassals  of 
the  Normans.  Oleg  appears  to  have  placed  in  posts  of  au- 
thority only  his  awn  countrymen. 

Oleg  novv,'  as  old  age  was  advancing,  passed  many  years 
in  quietude.  Surrounded  by  an  invincil)le  army,  and  with 
renown  wliich  pervaded  the  most  distant  regions,  no  tribes 
ventui'cd  to  distuib  his  repose.  His  distance  from  southern 
Europe  protected  liim  from  annoyance  from  the  jjowerfid 
nations  which  were  forming  there.  His  latter  years  seem  to 
liave  been  devoted  to  tlie  arts  of  peace,  for  he  secured  to  an 
unusual  degree  the  love,  as  well  as  the  admiration,  fif  his  sul)- 
jects.  Ancient  annalists  record  that  all  Russia  moaned  and 
wept  wh<>n   he   died.     He  is  regarded,  as  more  promiucntly 


38  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

than  any  other  man,  tlie  founder  of  the  Russian  empire.  He 
united,  though  by  treachery  and  blood,  the  northern  and 
southern  kingdoms  under  one  monarch.  He  then,  by  con- 
quest, extended  his  empire  over  vast  reahns  of  barbarians, 
bringing  them  all  under  the  simple  yet  effective  government 
of  feudal  lords.  He  consolidated  this  empire,  and  by  sagacious 
measures,  encouraging  arts  and  commerce,  he  led  his  barbar- 
ous people  onward  in  the  paths  of  civilization.  He  gave  Rus- 
sia a  name  and  renown,  so  that  it  assumed  a  position  among 
the  nations  of  the  globe,  notwithstanding  its  remote  position 
amidst  the  wilds  of  the  North.  His  usurpation,  history  can 
not  condemn.  In  those  days  any  man  had  the  right  to  govern 
■who  had  the  genius  of  command.  Genius  was  the  only  legiti- 
macy. But  he  was  an  assassin,  and  can  never  be  washed 
clean  from  that  ciime.  He  died  after  a  reign  of  thirty-three 
years,  and  was  buried,  with  all  the  displays  of  pomp  which 
that  dark  age  could  furnish,  upon  one  of  the  mountains  in  the 
vicinity  of  Kief,  which  mountain  for  many  generations  was 
called  the  Tomb  of  Oleg. 

Igor  now  assumed  the  reins  of  government.  He  had  lived 
in  Kief  a  quiet,  almost  an  effeminate  life,  with  his  beautiful 
bride  Olga.  A  very  powerful  tribe,  the  Drevolians,  which 
liad  been  rather  restive,  even  under  the  rigorous  sway  of 
Oleg,  thought  this  a  fiivorable  opportunity  to  regain  their 
independence.  They  raised  the  standard  of  revolt.  Igor 
crushed  the  insurrection  with  energy  which  astonished  all 
who  knew  him,  and  which  spread  his  fame  far  and  wide 
througli  Jill  the  wilds  of  Russia,  as  a  monarch  thoroughly 
capable  of  maintaining  his  command. 

Far  away  in  unknown  realms,  beyond  the  eastern  boutidary 
of  Russia,  where  the  gloomy  waves  of  the  Irtish,  the  Tobol, 
the  Oural  and  the  Volga  flow  through  vast  deserts,  w^ashing 
the  base  of  fii'-clad  mountains,  and  murmuring  through  wil- 
dernesses, the  native  domain  of  wolves  and  bears,  there  were 
M'andering   innumerable   tribes,  tierce,   cruel    and    barbarous, 


GROATTH     AND     CONSOLIDATION     OF     RUSSIA.       39 

wlio  Ik'IlI  llie  frontiers  of  Russia  in  continunl  terror.  Tliey 
were  called  by  the  generel  name  of  Petchenegues.  Igor  was 
compelled  to  be  constantly  on  the  alert  to  defend  his  vast 
frontier  from  the  irruptions  of  these  merciless  savages.  This 
incessant  warfare  led  to  the  organization  of  a  very  efficient 
military  power,  but  there  was  no  glory  to  be  acquired  in 
merely  driving  back  to  their  dens  these  wild  assailants. 
Weary  of  the  conflict,  he  at  last  consented  to  purchase  a 
peace  with  them ;  and  then,  seeking  the  military  ]-enown 
•which  Oleg  had  so  signally  acquired,  he  resolved  to  imitate 
his  example  and  make  a  descent  upon  Constantinople.  The 
annals  of  those  days,  which  seem  to  be  credible,  state  that 
lie  floated  down  the  Dnieper  with  ten  thousand  barges,  and 
spread  liis  sails  upon  the  waves  of  the  Euxine.  Entering  the 
Bosporus,  he  landed  on  both  shores  of  that  beautiful  strait, 
and,  with  the  most  wanton  barbarity,  ravaged  the  country 
far  and  near,  massacring  the  inhabitants,  pillaging  the  towns 
and  committing  all  the  buildings  to  the  flames. 

There  chanced  to  be  at  Constantinople,  a  very  energetic 
Roman  general,  who  was  dispatched  against  them  with  a 
Greek  fleet  and  a  numerous  land  force.  Tlie  Greeks  in  civili- 
zation were  iar  in  advance  of  the  Russians.  The  land  force 
drove  the  Russians  to  tluir  boats,  and  then  the  Grecian  fleet 
bore  down  upon  them.  A  new  instrun)ent  of  destruction  had 
been  invented,  the  terrible  Greek  Are.  Attached  to  arrows 
and  javelins,  and  in  gi-eat  balls  glowing  with  intensity  of  flame 
which  water  would  not  quench,  it  was  thrown  into  the  boats  of 
the  Russians,  enkindling  conflagration  and  exciting  terror  inde- 
gcriltable.  It  seemed  to  the  superstitious  followers  of  Igor,  that 
tliey  were  assailed  by  foes  hurling  the  lightnings  of  Jove.  In 
tills  fierce  conflict  Igor,  having  lost  a  large  number  of  barges, 
and  many  of  his  men,  drew  off  his  remaining  forces  in  disor- 
der, and  they  slowly  returned  to  their  country  in  disgrace,  ema- 
ciate and  starving.  iMany  of  the  Russians  taken  captive  by  the 
Greeks  were  put  to  death  with  the  most  horrible  barbarities 


40  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

Igor,  exasperated  rather  than  intimidated  by  this  terrible 
disaster,  resolved  upon  anotlier  expedition,  that  he  might  re- 
cover his  lost  renown  by  inflicting  the  most  terrible  vengeance 
upon  the  Greeks.  He  spent  two  years  in  making  preparations 
for  the  enterprise  ;  called  to  his  aid  warriors  from  the  most  dis- 
tant tribes  of  the  empire,  and  purchased  the  alliance  of  the 
Petchenegues,  With  an  immense  array  of  barges,  which  for 
leagues  covered  the  surface  of  the  Dnieper,  and  with  an  im- 
mense squadron  of  cavalry  following  along  the  banks,  he  com- 
menced tlie  descent  of  the  river.  The  emperor  was  informed 
that  the  whole  river  was  tilled  with  barges,  descending  for 
the  siege  and  sack  of  Constantinople.  In  terror  he  sent  em- 
bassadors to  Igor  to  endeavor  to  avert  the  stoi'ra. 

Tlie  imperial  embassadors  met  the  flotilla  near  the  mouth 
of  the  Dnieper,  and  oflered,  in  the  name  of  the  emperor,  to 
pay  the  same  tribute  to  Igor  which  had  been  paid  to  Oleg, 
and  even  to  increase  that  tribute.  At  the  same  time  they  en- 
deavored to  disarm  tlie  cupidity  of  the  foe  by  the  most  mag- 
nificent presents,  Igor  halted  his  troops,  and  collecting  his 
chieftains  in  counsel,  communicated  to  them  the  message  of 
the  emperor.     They  replied, 

"If  the  emperor  will  give  us  the  treasure  we  demand, 
■witliout  our  exposing  ourselves  to  the  perils  of  battle,  what 
more  can  we  ask  ?  Who  can  tell  on  which  side  will  be 
the  victory  V" 

Thus  influenced,  Igor  consented  to  a  treaty.  The  open- 
ing words  of  this  curious  treaty  are  worthy  of  being  recorded. 
They  were  as  follows  : 

"  We,  the  embassadors  of  Igor,  solennily  declare  that  this 
treaty  sliall  continue  so  long  as  the  sun  shaU  shine,  in  defiance 
of  tlie  macliinations  of  that  evil  spirit  who  is  the  enemy  of 
peace  and  the  fomenter  of  discord.  The  Russians  promise 
never  to  break  this  alliance  with  the  horde ;  those  who  have 
been  ba])tized,  under  penalty  of  temporal  and  eternal  punish- 
ment from  (iod  ;  others,  under  the  penalty  of  being  for  ever 


GKOWTII     AND     CONSOLIDATION     OF     KUSSIA.       41 

(leprivt'd  of  the  protection  of  Peioune  ;*  of  never  being  able 
to  protect  themselves  with  their  shields ;  of  being  doomed  to 
lacerate  themselves  with  their  own  swords,  arrows  and  other 
arms,  and  of  being  slaves  in  this  world  and  that  which  is  to 
come." 

This  important  treaty  consisted  of  fourteen  articles,  diawn 
up  with  great  precision,  and  in  fiict  making  the  Greek  em- 
peror as  it  were  but  a  vassal  of  the  Russian  monarch.  One 
of  the  articles  of  the  treaty  is  quite  illustiative  of  the  times. 
It  reads, 

"If  a  Christian  kills  a  Russian,  or  if  a  Russian  kills  a 
Christian,  the  friends  of  the  dead  have  a  riglit  to  seize  the 
murderer  and  kill  him." 

This  treaty  was  concbuled  at  Constantinoj)le,  between  the 
emperor  and  the  embassadors  of  Igor.  Imperial  embassadors 
were  sent  with  the  written  treaty  to  Kief  Igor,  with  impos- 
ing ceremonies,  ascended  the  sacred  hill  where  was  erected 
llie  Russian  idol  of  Pennine,  and  with  liis  chieftains  took  a 
solemn  oath  of  friendship  to  the  emperor,  and  then  as  a  gage 
of  their  sincerity  deposited  at  the  feet  of  the  idol  their  arms 
and  shields  of  gold.  The  Christian  nobles  i-epaired  to  the 
cathedral  of  St.  Elias,  the  tnost  ancient  church  of  Kief,  and 
there  took  the  same  oath  at  the  nltar  of  the  Christian's  God. 
The  renowned  Russian  histoi-ian,  Nestor,  who  was  a  monk  in 
the  monastery  at  Kief,  records  that  at  that  time  there  were 
numerous  Christians  in  Kief. 

Igor  sent  tiie  imperial  embassadors  back  to  Constantinople 
laden  \\\xh  rich  presents.  Elated  by  wealth  and  success,  the 
Russian  king  began  to  impose  heavier  burdens  of  taxation 
upon  subjugated  nations.  The  Drevliens  resisted.  AN^ith  an 
insufficient  force  Igor  entered  their  territories.  The  Drev- 
liens, with  the  fury  of  des})eration,  fell  upon  him  and  he  was 
slain,  and  his  soldiers  put  to  rout.  During  liis  reign  ho 
held  together  the  vast  empire  Oleg  iiad   placed   in  his   iiands, 

*  Ono  of  the  (jud3  of  tlio  Rusaiuas. 


42  THE      E  M  P  I  R  K      OF      R  L'  S  S  I  A  . 

tlioiigli  lie  liad  not  been  able  to  extend  the  boundaries  of  his 
country.  It  is  worthy  ot"  notice,  and  of  the  highest  praise, 
that  Igor,  though  a  ])agan,  imitating  the  example  of  Oleg, 
IJermitted  perfect  toleration  throughout  his  realms.  The 
gospel  of  Christ  was  freely  preached,  and  the  Christians  en- 
joyed entire  freedom  of  faith  and  worship.  His  reign  con- 
tinued thiity-two  years. 

Sviatoslaf,  the  son  of  Igor,  at  the  time  of  his  fether's  un- 
happy death  was  in  his  minority.  The  empire  was  then  in 
great  peril.  The  Drevliens,  one  of  the  most  numerous  and 
Avarlike  tribes,  were  in  open  and  successful  revolt.  The  army 
accustomed  to  activity,  and  now  in  idleness,  was  very  restive. 
The  old  Norman  generals,  ambitious  and  haughty,  were  dis- 
posed to  pay  but  little  re8j)ect  to  the  claims  of  a  prince  who 
was  yet  in  his  boyhood.  But  Providence  had  provided  for 
this  exigence.  Olga,  the  mother  of  Sviatoslaf,  assumed  the 
regency,  and  developed  traits  of  character  which  place  lier 
in  the  ranks  of  the  most  extraordinary  and  noble  of  women. 
Calling  to  her  aid  two  of  the  most  influential  of  the  nobles, 
one  of  whom  was  the  tutor  of  her  son  and  the  other  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  army,  she  took  the  helm  of  state,  and 
developed  powers  of  wisdom  and  energy  which  have  rarely 
been  equaled  and  perhaps  never  surpassed. 

S'.ie  immediately  sent  an  array  into  the  country  of  the 
Drevliens,  and  punished  with  terrible  severity  the  murderers 
of  her  husband.  The  powerful  tribe  was  soon  brought  again 
into  subjection  to  the  Russian  crown.  As  a  sort  of  defiant 
parade  of  her  power,  and  to  overawe  the  turbulent  Dre,vliens, 
she  traversed  their  whole  country,  with  her  son,  accompanied 
l)y  a  very  imposing  retinue  of  her  best  warriors.  Having 
thus  brouglit  them  to  subjection,  she  iustituted  over  them  a 
just  and  benevoh.'ut  system  of  government,  that  they  might 
have  no  occasion  again  to  rise  in  revolt.  They  soon  became 
so  warmly  attached  to  her  that  they  ever  were  foremost  in 
support  of  her  })ower. 


G  R  O  A\'  T  II     AND     C  0  X  S  t)  L  I  D  A  T  1  O  N     OF     K  U  S  S  I  A  .       43 

Oiu>  venr  had  not  passed  ere  Olga  was  seated  as  lirmly 
mjon  tlie  throne  !»s  Oleg  or  Igor  had  over  been.  She  then, 
leaving  her  son  Sviatoshif  at  Kief,  set  out  on  a  tour  through 
her  northern  provinces.  Everywhere,  by  her  wise  measures 
and  lier  deep  interest  in  tlie  welfare  of  her  subjects,  she  won 
admiration  and  love.  The  aimals  of  those  times  are  full  of 
her  praises.  The  impression  produced  by  tliis  visit  was  not 
effaced  from  the  popular  mind  for  live  hundred  years,  ])eing 
handed  down  from  father  to  sou.  The  sledge  in  which  she 
traveled  was  for  many  generations  preserved  as  a  sacred 
relic. 

She  returned  to  Kief,  and  there  resided  with  her  son,  for 
many  years,  in  peace  and  happiness.  The  whole  empire  was 
trancjuil,  and  in  the  lowly  cabins  of  the  Russians  there  was 
plenty,  and  no  sounds  of  war  or  violence  disturbed  the  quiet 
of  their  lives.  This  seems  to  have  been  one  of  tlie  most 
serene  and  pleasant  periods  of  Russian  history.  This  noble 
Avoman  was  born  a  pagan.  But  the  gospel  of  Christ  was 
preached  in  the  churches  of  Kief,  and  she  heard  it  and  was 
deeply  impressed  with  its  sublimity  and  beauty.  Her  life 
was  drawing  to  a  close.  The  grandeur  of  emjjire  she  was 
soon  to  lay  aside  for  the  darkness  and  the  silence  of  the  tomb. 
These  thoughts  oppressed  her  mind,  which  was,  by  nature, 
elevated,  sensitive  and  refined.  She  sent  for  the  Chiistian 
pastors  and  conversed  with  them  about  the  immortality  ot 
the  soul,  and  salvation  through  faith  in  the  atonement  of 
our  Lord  and  Saviour  Jesus  Christ.  The  good  seed  of 
Christian  truth  fell  into  good  soil.  Cordially  she  embrace<l 
the  gospel. 

Tliat  her  renunciation  of  paganism,  and  her  confession  of 
the  Saviour  might  be  more  impressive,  she  decided  to  go  to 
Constantinople  to  l>e  bai)tized  by  the  venerable  Christian 
patiiareh,  who  resided  there.  The  Christian  em[)eror,  Coti- 
stantine  Porphyrogenete,  inlbrmed  of  her  approach,  pre- 
pared  to   receive  her  with  all  the  pomp   worthy  of  so   illus- 


44  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA, 

trioiis  a  princess  of  so  powerful  a  people.  He  has  himself 
left,  a  record  of  these  most  interesting  ceremonies.  Olga 
approached  the  imperial  palace,  with  a  very  splendid  suite 
composed  of  nobk-s  of  lier  court,  of  ladies  of  distinction,  and 
of  the  Russian  embassadors  and  merchants  residing  at  Con- 
stantinople, The  emperor,  with  a  corresjionding  suite  of 
si^lendor,  met  the  Russian  queen  at  a  short  distance  from  the 
i:)alace,  and  conducted  her,  with  her  retinue,  to  the  aj)artments 
arranged  for  their  entertainment.  It  was  the  9th  of  Septem- 
ber, 955.  In  tlie  great  banqueting  hall  of  the  palace  there 
Avns  a  magnificent  feast  prepared.  The  guests  wei'e  regaled 
with  richest  music.  After  such  an  entertainment  as  even  the 
opulence  of  the  East  had  seldom  furnished,  there  was  an  ex- 
change of  ])resents.  The  emperor  and  tlie  queen  sti-ove  to 
outvie  each  other  in  the  richness  and  elegance  of  their  gifts. 
Every  individual  in  the  two  retinues,  received  presents  of 
great  value. 

The  queen  at  her  baptism  received  the  Christian  name  of 
Helen.  We  do  not  find  any  record  of  the  ceremonies  per- 
formed at  her  baptism.  It  is  siin}>ly  stated  that  the  emperor 
himself  stood  as  her  sponsor,  Olga,  as  she  returned  to  Kiet^ 
with  her  baptismal  vows  upon  her,  and  in  the  freshness  of  her 
Christian  hopes,  manifested  great  solicitude  for  her  son,  who 
still  continued  a  pagan.  But  Sviatoslaf  was  a  wild,  pleasure- 
seeking  young  man,  who  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  all  his  mother's 
counsels.  The  unbridled  license  which  paganism  granted,  was 
much  more  congenial  to  his  unrenewed  heart  than  the  salu- 
tary restraints  of  the  gospel  of  Christ.  Tiie  human  heart  was 
then  and  there,  as  now  and  here.  The  Russian  historian  Ka- 
ramsin  says, 

"  In  vain  this  pious  mother  spoke  to  her  son  of  the  happi- 
ness of  being  a  Ciiristian  ;  of  the  i)eaceful  spirit  he  would 
tind  in  the  worship  of  the  true  God,  'How  can  I,'  replied 
Sviatoslaf"  '  make  a  profession  of  this  new  religion,  which  will 
expose  me  to  the  ridicule  of  all  my  companions  in  arms  ?'     In 


GROWTH     AND     CONSOLIDATION     OF     RUSSIA.       45 

vain  Oliiiv  uii;e(l  upon  him  that  liis  exmnple  might  induce 
others  to  embrace  the  gospel  of  Christ.  The  young  prince 
vas  inflexible.  He  made  no  effort  to  prevent  others  from 
becoming  Cliristians,  but  did  not  disguise  his  contempt  for  the 
Christian  faith,  and  so  persistently  rejected  all  the  exhorta- 
tions of  his  mother,  whom  he  still  tenderly  loved,  that  she 
■was  at  last  forced  to  silence,  and  could  only  pray,  in  sadness, 
that  God  would  open  the  eyes  and  touch  the  heart  of  her 
child." 

The  young  prince  having  attained  liis  majority  in  the  year 
9(34,  assumed  the  crown.  His  soul  was  tired  with  the  ambition 
of  signalizing  himself  by  gi-eat  military  exploits.  The  blood 
of  Igor,  of  Oleg  and  of  Rurik  coursed  through  his  veins,  and 
he  resolved  to  Lead  the  Russian  arms  to  victories  wliich  should 
eclipse  all  their  exploits.  He  gathered  an  inunense  army,  and 
looked  eagerly  around  to  lind  some  arena  worthy  of  the  dis- 
play of  his  genius. 

His  character  was  an  extraordinary  one,  combining  all  the 
virtues  of  ancient  chivalry  ;  virtues  which  guided  by  Christian 
faith,  constitute  the  noblest  men,  but  which  without  piety 
constitute  a  man  the  scourge  of  his  race.  J^amewa^iihe  God 
of  Sviatoslaf  To  acquire  the  reputation  of  a  great  warrioi-, 
he  was  willing  to  whelm  provinces  in  blood.  But  he  was  too 
magnanimous  to  take  any  mean  advantage  of  their  weakness. 
He  would  give  them  fair  warning,  that  no  blow  should  be 
struck,  assassin  like,  stealthily  and  in  the  dark. 

He  accustomed  his  body,  Spartan-like,  to  all  the  fatigues 
and  exposuies  <jf  war.  He  indulged  in  no  luxury  of  tents  or 
carriages,  and  ate  the  flesh  of  horses  and  wild  beasts,  which  he 
roasted  himself,  over  the  coals.  In  his  campaigns  the  ground 
was  his  bed,  the  sky  his  curtain,  his  horse  blanket  his  covering, 
and  the  .saddle  his  pillow  ;  and  lie  seemed  equally  regardless 
of  both  heat  and  cold.  His  soldiers  looked  to  him  as  their 
model  and  emulated  his  hardihood.  Turning  his  attention 
iir<?t  to  the  vast  and  almost  unknown  lealms   spreading  out 


46  THE      E  ^r  P  I  R  E      OF     R  T'^  S  S  1  A  . 

towards  the  East,  he  sent  woid  to  the  tribes  on  the  Don  and 
the  Volga,  that  he  Avas  coming  to  fight  them.  As  soon  as 
they  had  time  to  prepare  for  their  defense  he  followed  his 
word.  Here  was  chivalric  crime  and  chivnlric  magnanimity. 
Marching  nine  hundred  miles  directly  east  fiom  Kief,  over  the 
Russian  plains,  he  came  to  tlie  banks  of  the  Don.  The  region 
was  inhabited  by  a  very  powerful  nation  called  the  Khozars. 
They  were  arrayed  under  their  sovereign,  on  the  banks  of 
the  river  to  meet  the  foe.  The  Khozars  had  even  sent  for 
Greek  engineers  to  aid  tliem  in  throwing  up  their  foi'iitica- 
tions;  and  they  were  in  an  intrenched  camp  constructed  with 
much  military  skill.  A  bloody  battle  ensued,  in  which  thou- 
sands were  slain.  But  Sviatoslaf  was  victor,  and  the  territory 
was  annexed  to  Russia,  and  Russian  nobles  were  placed  in 
feudal  possession  of  its  provinces.  The  conqueror  then  fol- 
lowed down  the  Don  to  the  Sea  of  Azof,  fiohtina-  sano-ninary 
battles  all  the  way,  but  everywhei-e  victorious.  The  terror 
of  his  arms  inspired  wide-si)read  consternation,  and  many 
tribes,  throwing  aside  their  weapons,  bowed  the  neck  to  the 
Russian  king,  and  implored  his  clemency. 

Sviatoslaf  returned  to  Kief  with  waving  banners,  exult- 
ing in  his  renown.  He  was  stimulated,  not  satiated,  by  this 
success;  and  now  planned  another  expedition  still  moi'e  peril- 
ous and  grand.  On  the  south  of  the  Danube,  near  its  mouth, 
M'as  Bulgaria,  a  vast  i-ealm,  populous  and  powerful,  which  liad 
long  l)id  defiance  to  all  the  forces  of  the  Roman  empire.  The 
conquest  of  Bulgaria  was  an  achievement  worthy  of  the  chiv- 
alry even  of  Sviatoslaf  With  an  immense  fleet  of  barges,  con- 
taining sixty  thousand  men,  he  descended  the  Dnieper  to  the 
Euxine.  Coasting  along  the  western  shore  his  fleet  entered 
the  mouth  of  the  Danube.  Tlie  Bulgarians  fought  like  heroes 
to  repel  the  invaders.  All  their  eilbrts  were  in  vain.  The 
Russians  sprang  from  their  barges  on  the  shoi-e,  and,  pro- 
tected by  their  immense  bucklers,  sword  in  hand,  i-outed  the 
Bulgarians  with  great  slaughter.     Cities  and  villages  rapidly 


GROWTH     AXD     COXSO  LI  D  ATIOX     OF     RUSSIA.       47 

Bubmitted  to  tlie  oonqucvor.  The  king  of  Bulgaria  in  his 
despair  rushed  upon  death,  Sviatoshif,  hiden  witli  the  spoils 
of  the  vanquished  and  erowned  with  tlie  Laurels  of  victory, 
surrendered  liiniseU"  to  rejoicing  and  to  all  the  pleasures  of 
voluptuous  indulgence. 

From  these  dissipations  Sxdatoslaf  was  suddenly  recalled 
by  the  tidings  that  his  own  capital  was  in  danger ;  that  a 
neighboring  tribe,  of  great  military  powei-,  taking  advantage 
of  his  absence  with  his  army,  had  invested  Kief  and  were 
hourly  expected  to  take  it  by  assault.  In  dismay  he  hastened 
his  return,  and  found,  to  his  inexpressible  relief,  that  the 
besiegers  had  been  routed  by  the  stratagem  and  valor  of  a 
Russian  general,  and  that  the  city  and  its  inhabitants  were 
thus  rescued  from  destruction. 

But  the  Russian  king,  having  tasted  the  pleasui'es  of  a 
more  sunny  clime,  and  having  rioted  in  the  excitements  of 
sensual  indulgence,  soon  became  weary  of  ti'anquil  life  in  Kief 
He  was  also  anxious  to  escape  from  the  reproof  which  he 
always  felt  from  the  pious  life  of  his  mother.  He  therefoi-e 
resolved  to  return  to  his  conquered  kingdom  of  Bulgaria.  He 
said  to  his  mother  : 

"  I  had  ratlier  live  in  Buli:faria  than  at  Kief  Jiuloaria  is 
the  center  of  wealth,  natui-e  and  art.  The  Greeks  send  there 
gold  and  clotlis ;  the  Hungarians  silver  and  horses ;  the  Rus- 
sians furs,  wax,  honey  and  slaves." 

"  Wait,  my  son,  at  least  till  after  my  death,"  exclaimed 
Olga.  "  I  am  aged  and  infirm,  and  very  soon  shall  be  con- 
veyed to  my  tomb." 

This  interview  hastened  the  death  of  Olga.  In  four  days 
she  slept  in  Jesus.  She  earnestly  entreated  lier  son  not  to 
admit  of  any  i)agan  rites  at  her  funeral.  She  pointed  out  the 
place  of  her  Ijuiial,  and  was  interred  with  Christian  jtrayers, 
accompanied  by  the  lamentations  and  tears  of  all  the  people. 
Sviatoslai;  in  his  foreign  wai-s,  which  his  mother  greatly  dis- 
approved,  had   left   with    her  the   administi-ation   of  internal 


48  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

affairs.  Nestor  speaks  of  tliis  pious  princess  in  beautiful 
phrase  as  the  morning  star  of  salvation  for  JRussia. 

Sviato-slaf,  having  committed  his  mother  to  the  tomb, 
made  immediate  })rei)arations  to  transfer  his  capital  from  Kief 
to  tlie  more  genial  clime  of  Bulgaria,  Had  he  been  influenced 
by  statesmanhke  considerations  it  would  have  been  an  admir- 
able move.  The  climate  was  far  preferable  to  that  of  Kief, 
the  soil  more  fertile,  and  the  openings  for  commerce,  through 
the  Danube  and  the  Euxine,  immeasurably  superior.  But 
Sviatoslaf  thouglit  mainly  of  pleasure. 

It  was  now  the  year  970.  Sviatoslaf  had  three  sons,  vvliom 
he  estabhshed,  though  all  in  their  minority,  in  administration 
of  affairs  in  the  realms  from  which  he  was  departing.  Yaro- 
})olk  i-eceived  the  government  of  Kief  His  second  son,  Oleg, 
was  placed  over  the  powerful  nation  of  Drevliens.  A  third 
son,  Vlademer,  the  child  of  dishonor,  not  born  in  wedlock, 
was  intrusted  with  the  command  at  Novgorod.  Having  thus 
arranged  these  affairs,  Sviatoslaf,  with  a  well-appointed  army, 
eagerly  set  out  for  his  conquered  province  of  Bulgaria.  .  But 
in  the  meantime  the  Bulii'arians  had  oro^anized  a  stroma  force 

<r^  o  o 

to  resist  the  invader.  The  Russians  conquered  in  a  bloody 
battle,  and,  by  stoi-m,  retook  Peregeslavetz,  the  beautiful  cap- 
ital of  Bulgaria,  where  Sviatoslaf  established  his  throne. 

The  Greeks  at  Constantinople  were  alarmed  by  this  near 
approach  of  the  ever-encroaching  and  warlike  Russians,  and 
trembled  lest  they  should  next  fall  a  prey  to  the  rapacity  of 
Sviatoslaf  Tlie  emperor,  Jean  Zimisces,  immediately  entered 
into  an  alliance  with  the  Bulgarians,  offering  liis  daughter  in 
marriage  to  Boris,  son  of  their  former  king.  A  bloody  war 
ensued.  The  Greeks  and  Bulgarians  were  victors,  and  Svia- 
toslaf, almost  gnashing  his  teeth  with  rage,  was  driven  back 
again  to  the  cold  regions  of  the  North.  Tiie  Greek  histoiians 
give  the  following  description  of  the  personal  njipearance  of 
Sviatoslaf  He  was  of  medium  height  and  well  formed.  His 
physiognomy  was  severe  and  stern.     His   breast  was  broad, 


GROWTU     AXD     CONSOLIDATION     OF     RUSSIA.       49 

liis  uock  thiclc,  his  eyes  blue,  with  heavy  eyebrows.  He  had 
a  broad  nose,  lieavy  moustaches,  but  a  sHght  beard.  The 
large  mass  of  hair  which  covered  his  head  indicated  his  nobil- 
ity. From  one  of  his  ears  there  was  suspended  a  ring  of  gold, 
decorated  with  two  pearls  and  a  ruby. 

As  iSviatoslaf,  with  his  shattered  army,  ascended  the 
Dnieper  in  their  boats,  the  Petchenegues,  fierce  tribes  of 
barbarians,  whom  Sviatoslaf  had  subdued,  rose  in  revolt 
against  him.  They  gathered,  in  immense  numbers,  at  one 
of  the  cataracts  of  the  Dnieper,  where  it  would  be  necessary 
for  the  Russians  to  transport  their  boats  for  some  distance  by 
laud.  They  hoped  to  cut  oft'  his  retreat  and  thus  secure  the 
entire  destruction  of  their  formidable  foe.  Tlie  situation  of 
Sviatoslaf  was  now  desperate.  Nothing  remained  for  him 
but  death.  With  the  abandonment  of  despair  he  rushed  into 
tlie  thickest  of  the  foe,  and  soon  fell  a  mangled  corpse.  How 
much  more  happy  would  have  been  liis  life,  how  much  more 
happy  his  deatli,  had  he  followed  tlie  counsels  of  his  pious 
mother.  Kouria,  chief  of  the  Petchenegues,  cut  off  tlie  head 
of  Sviatoslaf,  and  ever  after  used  his  skull  for  a  drinking  cup. 
The  annalist  Strikofski,  states  that  he  had  engraved  upon  the 
skull  the  words,  "In  seeking  the  destruction  of  others  you 
met  with  your  own." 

A  few  fugitives  from  the  army  of  Sviatoslaf  succeeded  in 
reaching  KiefJ  where  they  communicated  the  tidings  of  the 
death  of  the  king.  Tlie  empire  now  found  itself  divided  into 
three  portions,  each  with  its  sovereign.  Yaropolk  was  su- 
preme at  Kief  Oleg  reigned  in  the  spacious  country  of  the 
Drevliens.  Vladimir  was  established  at  Novgorod.  No  one 
of  these  princes  was  disposed  to  yield  the  sujjreniacy  to  eitlier 
(;f  the  others.  They  were  soon  in  arms.  Yaropolk  marched 
against  his  brother  Oleg.  The  two  armies  met  about  one 
hundred  and  fifty  miles  north-west  of  Kief,  near  the  ])resent 
town  of  ()l»roulcIi.  Oleg  and  his  force  were  utterly  routed. 
As  tiie  whole   army,  in  confusion  and  dismay,   weie  in   pell- 


60  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

mell  flight,  hotly  pursued,  the  horse  of  Oleg  fell.  Nothhig 
could  resist,  even  for  an  instant,  the  onswelling  flood.  He 
was  trampled  into  the  mire,  beneath  the  iron  lioofs  of  squad- 
rons of  horse  and  the  tramp  of  thousands  of  mailed  men. 
After  the  battle,  his  body  was  found,  so  mutilated  that  it  was 
with  difliculty  recognized.  As  it  was  spread  upon  a  mat  be- 
fore the  eyes  of  Yaropolk,  he  wept  bitterly,  and  caused  the 
remains  to  be  interred  with  funeral  lionors.  The  monument 
raised  to  his  memory  has  long  since  perished  ;  but  even  to 
the  jjresent  day  the  inhabitants  of  Obroutch  point  out  the 
spot  where  Oleg  fell. 

Vladimir,  prince  of  Novgorod,  terrified  by  the  fate  of  his 
brother  Oleg,  and  apprehensive  that  a  similar  doom  awaited 
him,  sought  safety  in  flight.  Forsaldng  his  realm  he  retired 
to  the  Baltic,  and  took  refuge  with  the  powerful  Normans 
from  whom  his  ancestors  had  come.  Yaropolk  immediately 
dispatched  lieutenants  to  take  possession  of  the  government, 
and  thus  all  Russia,  as  a  imited  kingdom,  was  again  brought 
under  the  sway  of  a  single  sovereign. 


CHAPTER    III. 

REIONS  OF  VL ADEMER,  TAROSLAR  YSIASLAF  AND  VSEVOLOD 

From  973  to  1092. 

Flight  OF  Valdfmer.— His  Stoles  TJride.— Tiik  March  upon  Kief.— DEBAtJcnr.RY  or 
Valdemee  — Zj;ai.ous  Pa(;  anism.— iNTRomcTioN  of  Christianity.— Baptism  in  tiik 
Dniepek. — Entire  Change  in  the  Character  of  Valdemer.— His  Great  Kei-orms. 
— IIi3  Death. — L'sckpation  of  Sviatopolk  the  Miserable. — Accession  of  Yaros- 
LAK. — His  Apmixistuation  and  Death. — Accession  of  Ysiaslaf. — His  ?trangi! 
Rr.VKii.sus.— His  Death. — Vsevolod  Ascends  the  Throne. — His  Two  Flights  to 
Poland.— .\ppEAi.s  to  the  Pope.— Wars,  Famine  and  Pestilence.— Charaotee 
or  VsEVOLon. 

THOUGH  Vlademer  had  fled  from  Russia,  it  Avas  by  no 
means  with  the  intention  of  making  a  peaceful  surrender 
of  his  realms  to  his  ambitious  brother.  For  two  years  he 
was  incessantly  employed,  upon  the  shores  of  the  Baltic,  the 
home  of  his  ancestors,  in  gatliering  adventurers  around  his 
flag,  to  march  upon  Xovgorod,  and  chase  from  thence  the  lieu- 
tenants of  Yaropolk.  He  at  length,  at  the  head  of  a  strong 
army,  triumphantly  entered  the  city.  Half  way  between 
Novgorod  and  Kief,  was  the  city  and  pi-ovince  of  Polotsk. 
The  governor  was  a  Xorman  named  Kovgolod.  His  beauti- 
ful daughter  Rogneda  was  affianced  to  Yaropolk,  and  they 
were  soon  to  be  married.  Vlademer  sent  embassadors  to 
Rovgolod  soliciting  an  alliance,  and  asking  for  the  hand  of 
his  daughter. 

Tlie  proud  princess,  fliithful  to  Yaropolk,  returned  the 
stinging  reply,  that  she  toould  never  many  the  son  of  a  slave. 
We  have  before  mentioned  that  the  mother  of  Valdemer  was 
not  the  wife  of  his  father.  Slie  was  one  of  the  maids  of  honor 
of  Olga.     This  insult  i-oused  the  indignation  of  Valdemer  to 


52  THE     K  M  P  I  It  E      OF      RUSSIA. 

the  highest  pitch.  Burning  with  rage  he  marched  suddenly 
upon  Polotsk,  took  the  city  by  storm,  killed  Rovgolod  and 
his  two  sons,  and  compelled  Rogneda,  his  captive,  to  marry 
him,  paying  but  little  attention  to  the  marriage  ceremony. 
Having  thus  satiated  his  vengeance,  he  marched  upon  Kief, 
with  a  numerous  army,  composed  of  chosen  warriors  from 
various  tribes.  Yaropolk,  alarmed  at  the  strength  with 
which  his  brother  was  approaching,  did  not  dare  to  give  him 
battle,  but  accumulated  all  his  force  behind  the  ramparts  of 
Kief  The  city  soon  fell  into  the  hands  of  Yaldemer,  and 
Yarojjolk,  basely  betrayed  by  one  of  his  generals,  was  assas- 
sinated by  two  officers  of  Vlademer,  acting  under  his  au- 
thoiity. 

Vlademer  was  now  in  possession  of  the  sovereign  power, 
and  he  displayed  as  much  energy  in  the  administration  of 
affiiirs  as  he  had  shown  in  the  acquisition  of  the  crown.  He 
immediately  imposed  a  heavy  tax  u^^on  the  Russians,  to  raise 
money  to  pay  his  troops.  Having  consolidated  his  power 
he  became  a  very  zealous  supporter  of  the  old  pagan  worship, 
rearing  several  new  idols  upon  the  sacred  hill,  and  placing  in 
his  palace  a  silver  statue  of  Peroune.  His  soul  seems  to  have 
been  harrowed  by  the  consciousness  of  crime,  and  he  sought, 
by  the  ci'uel  rites  of  a  debasing  superstition,  to  appease  the 
wrath  of  the  Gods. 

Still  remorse  did  not  prevent  him  from  plunging  into  the 
most  revolting  excesses  of  debauchery.  The  chronicles  of 
those  times  state  that  he  had  three  hundred  concubines  in 
one  of  his  palaces,  three  hundred  in  another  at  Kief,  and  two 
hundred  at  one  of  his  country  seats.  It  is  by  no  means  cer- 
tain that  these  are  exaggerations,  for  every  beautiful  maiden  in 
the  empire  was  sought  out,  to  be  transferred  to  his  harems. 
Paganism  liad  no  word  of  remonstrance  to  utter  against  sudi 
excesses.  But  Vlademer,  devoted  as  he  was  to  sensual  indul- 
gence, was  equally  fond  of  war."  His  armies  were  ever  on  the 
move,  and  the  cry  of  battle  was  never  intermitted.     On  the 


REIGN      OF     VLADEilER.  63 

soutli-east  lie  extended  liis  conquests  to  the  Carpathian  moun- 
lains,  where  they  skirt  the  plains  of  Hungary.  In  the  north- 
west he  extended  his  sway,  by  all  the  energies  of  fire  and  blood, 
even  to  tlie  shores  of  the  Baltic,  and  to  the  Gulf  of  Finland. 

Elated  beyond  measure  by  his  victories,  he  attributed  his 
success  to  the  favor  of  his  idol  gods,  and  resolved  to  express 
his  homage  by  oflerings  of  human  blood.  Pie  collected  a 
number  of  handsome  boys  and  beautiful  girls,  and  drew  lots 
to  see  which  of  them  should  be  offered  in  sacrifice.  The  lot 
fell  upon  a  fine  boy  from  one  of  the  Christian  flimilies.  The 
frantic  father  interjwsed  to  save  his  child.  But  the  agents  of 
Vladenier  fell  fiercely  upon  them,  and  they  both  were  slain 
and  offered  in  sacrifice.  Their  names,  Ivan  and  Tlieodore, 
are  still  preserved  in  the  Russian  church  as  the  first  Chris- 
tian martyrs  of  Kief. 

A  few  more  years  of  violence  and  crime  passed  away, 
when  Vlademer  became  the  subject  of  that  marvelous  change 
which,  nine  hundred  years  before,  had  converted  the  persecu- 
ting Saul  into  the  devoted  apostle.  The  circumstances  of  his 
conversion  are  very  peculiar,  and  are  very  minutely  related 
by  Nestor.  Other  recitals  seem  to  give  authenticity  to  the 
narrative.  For  some  time  Vlademer  had  evidently  been  in 
much  anxiety  respecting  the  doom  which  awaited  him  beyond 
the  grave.  He  sent  for  the  teachers  of  the  diflei-ent  systems 
of  religion,  to  explain  to  him  the  peculiarities  of  their  faith. 
First  came  the  Mohammedans  from  Bulgaria ;  then  the  Jews 
from  Jerusalem  ;  then  the  Christians  from  the  papal  church 
at  Kotne,  and  then  Christians  from  the  Greek  church  at  Con- 
slantinople.  The  Mohammedans  and  the  Jews  he  rejected 
promptly,  but  was  undecided  respecting  the  claims  of  Rome 
and  Constantinople.  He  then  selected  ten  of  the  wisest  men 
in  his  kingdom  and  sent  them  to  visit  Rome  and  Constanti- 
noi)le  and  report  in  Avhich  country  divine  worship  was  con- 
ducted in  the  matmer  most  worthy  of  tlio  Supreme  Being. 
The  embassadors  retuiniiig  to  Kiel^  reported  warmly  in  fiivor 


54  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

of  tlie  Greek  church.  Still  the  Diind  of  Vlacleme?'  was  op- 
pressed witli  doubts.  He  assembled  a  number  of  the  most 
virtuous  nobles  and  asked  their  advice.  The  question  was 
settled  by  the  remark  of  one  who  said,  "  Had  not  the  religion 
of  the  Greek  cluirch  been  the  best,  the  sainted  Olga  would 
not  have  accepted  it." 

This  wonderful  event  is  well  authenticated  ;  Nestor  gives 
a  recital  of  it  in  its  minute  details;  and  an  old  Greek  manu- 
script, preserved  in  the  royal  library  at  Paris,  records  the  visit 
of  these  ambassadors  to  Rome  and  Constantinople.  Vlade- 
raer's  conversion,  however,  seems,  at  this  time,  to  have  been 
intellectual  rather  than  spiritual,  a  change  in  his  policy  of 
administration  rather  than  a  change  of  heart.  Though  this 
external  change  was  a  boundless  blessing  to  Russia,  there  is 
but  little  evidence  that  Vlademer  then  comprehended  that 
moral  renovation  which  the  gospel  of  Christ  effects  as  its 
crowning  glory.  He  saw  the  absurdity  of  paganism;  he  felt 
tortured  by  remorse ;  perhaps  he  felt  in  some  degree  the  in- 
fluence of  the  gospel  which  was  even  tlien  faithfully  preached 
in  a  few  churches  in  idolatrous  Kief;  and  he  wished  to 
elevate  Russia  above  the  degradation  of  brutal  idolatry. 

He  deemed  it  necessary  that  his  renunciation  of  idola- 
try and  adoption  of  Christianity  should  be  accompanied  with 
pomp  which  should  produce  a  wide-spread  impression  upon 
Russia,  He  accordingly  collected  an  immense  army,  de- 
scended tlie  Dnieper  in  boats,  sailed  across  the  Black  Sea,  and 
entering  the  (tuIT  of  Cherson,  near  Sevastopol,  after  several 
bloody  battles  took  military  possession  of  the  Crimea.  Thus 
victorious,  he  sent  an  embassage  to  the  emperors  Basil  and 
Constantino  at  Constantinople,  that  he  wished  the  young- 
Christian  })rincess  Anne  for  his  bride,  and  that  if  they  did  not 
promptly  grant  his  request,  he  would  march  his  army  to  attack 
the  city. 

The  emi)erois,  trembling  before  the  approach  of  such  a 
powei-,  rcjilicd  that  they  would  not  withhold   from  him   the 


BEIGiS      OF      VLADEMER.  55 

hand  of  the  princess  if  he  would  first  embrace  Christianity. 
Vhidenier  of  course  assented  to  tliis,  wliieh  was  the  great 
object  he  had  in  view ;  but  demanded  that  tlie  princess,  wlio 
was  a  sister  of  the  emperors,  should  first  be  sent  to  him.  The 
unhappy  maiden  was  overwhelmed  with  anguish  at  the  recej)- 
tion  of  these  tidings.  She  regarded  the  pagan  Russians  as 
ferocious  savages;  and  to  be  compelled  to  marry  their  chief 
was  to  her  a  doom  more  dreadful  than  death. 

But  pohcy,  which  is  the  religion  of  cabinets,  demanded 
the  sacriiice.  The  princess,  weeping  in  despair,  was  con- 
ducted, accompanied  by  tlie  most  distinguished  ecclesiastics 
and  nobles  of  the  empire,  to  the  camp  of  Ylademer,  where 
she  was  received  with  the  most  gorgeous  demonstrations  of 
rejoicing.  The  whole  army  expressed  their  gratification  by 
all  the  uttei-ances  of  triumph.  The  ceremony  of  baptism 
was  immediately  performed  in  the  church  of  St.  Basil,  in  the 
city  of  Cherson,  and  then,  at  the  same  hour,  the  marriage 
rites  with  the  princess  were  solemnized.  Vladenier  ordered  a 
large  church  to  be  built  at  Cherson  in  memory  of  his  visit. 
He  then  returned  to  Kief,  taking  witli  him  some  preachers  of 
distinction;  a  communion  service  wrought  in  the  most  grace- 
ful proportions  of  Grecian  art,  and  several  exquisite  specimens 
of  statuary  and  sculpture,  to  inspire  his  subjects  with  a  love 
for  the  beautiful. 

He  accepted  the  Cln-istian  teachers  as  his  guides,  and 
devoted  himself  with  extraordinai-y  zeal  to  the  work  of  per- 
suading all  his  subjects  to  renounce  their  idol-worship  and 
accept  Christianity.  Every  measure  was  adopted  to  throw 
contempt  upon  paganism.  The  idols  were  collected  and 
burned  in  huge  bonfires.  The  sacred  statue  of  Peroime,  the 
most  illustrious  of  the  pagan  Gods,  was  dragged  ignominiously 
through  the  streets,  })elted  with  mud  and  scourged  with  whii)s, 
until  at  last,  battered  and  defaced,  it  was  dragged  to  the  top 
of  a  pi-ecipice  and  tumbled  headlong  into  the  river,  amidst  the 
derision  and  hootings  of  the  multitude. 


50  THE      EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

Our  zealous  new  convert  now  issued  a  decree  to  all  the 
people  of  Russia,  rich  and  poor,  lords  and  slaves,  to  repair 
to  the  liver  in  the  vicinity  of  Kief  to  be  baptized.  At  an 
appointed  day  the  people  assembled  by  thousands  on  the 
banks  of  the  Dnieper.  Vhidemer  at  length  appeared,  accom- 
panied by  a  great  number  of  Greek  priests.  The  signal  being 
given,  the  whole  multitude,  men,  women  and  children,  waded 
slowly  into  the  stream.  Some  boldly  advanced  out  up  to 
their  necks  in  the  water;  others,  more  timid,  ventured  only 
waist  deep.  Fathers  and  mothers  led  their  children  by  the 
hand.  The  priests,  standing  upon  the  shore,  read  the  bap- 
tismal prayers,  and  chaunted  the  praises  of  God,  and  then 
conferred  the  name  of  Christians  upon  these  barbarians.  The 
multitude  then  came  up  from  the  water. 

A'^lademer  was  in  a  transport  of  joy.  His  strange  soul  was 
not  insensible  to  the  sublimity  of  the  hour  and  of  the  scene. 
Raising  liis  eyes  to  heaven  he  uttered  tlie  following  prayer: 

"  Creator  of  heaven  and  earth,  extend  thy  blessing  to 
these  thy  new  chiklren.  May  tliey  know  tliee  as  the  true 
God,  and  be  strengthened  by  thee  in  the  true  religion.  Come 
to  my  help  against  the  temptations  of  the  evil  spirit,  and  I  will 
praise  thy  name." 

Thus,  in  the  year  988,  paganism  was,  by  a  blow,  demol- 
ished in  Russia,  and  nominal  Christianity  introduced  through- 
out the  whole  realm.  A  Christian  chui-ch  was  erected  upon 
the  spot  where  the  statue  of  Peroune  had  stood.  Architects 
were  brought  from  Constantinople  to  build  churches  of  stone 
iti  the  highest  artistic  style.  Missionaries  were  sent  through- 
out the  whole  kingdom,  to  instruct  the  people  in  the  doc- 
trines of  Christianity,  and  to  administer  t.he  rite  of  baptism. 
Nearly  all  the  people  readily  received  the  new  faith.  Some, 
however,  attached  to  the  ancient  idolatry,  refused  to  abandon 
it.  Vlademer,  nobly  recognizing  the  rights  of  conscience, 
resorted  to  no  measures  of  violence.  The  idolaters  were  left 
undisturbed  save  by  the  teachings  of  the  missionaries.     Thus 


KEIGN      OF      YLADEilEE.  57 

for  several  generations  idolatry  held  a  lingering-  life  in  the 
remote  sections  of  the  empire.  Schools  were  established  for 
the  instruction  of  the  young,  learned  teachers  from  Greece 
secured,  and  books  of  Christian  biography  translated  into  the 
Russian  tongue. 

Vlademer  had  then  ten  sons.  Three  others  were  after- 
wards born  to  him.  Pie  divided  his  kingdom  into  ten  ])rov- 
inces  or  states,  over  each  of  which  he  placed  one  of  these 
sons  as  governor.  On  the  frontiers  of  the  empire  he  caused 
cities,  strongly  fortitied,  to  be  erected  as  safeguards  against 
the  invasion  of  remote  barbarians.  For  several  years  Russia 
enjoyed  peace  with  but  trivial  interrui)tions.  The  character 
of  Vlademer  every  year  wonderfully  improved.  Under  his 
Christian  teachers  he  acquired  more  and  more  of  the  Christian 
spirit,  and  that  spirit  was  infused  into  all  his  public  acts.  lie 
became  the  father  of  his  people,  and  especially  the  friend  and 
helper  of  the  poor.  The  king  was  deeply  impressed  with  the 
words  of  our  Saviour,  "  ijjessed  are  the  merciful,  for  they 
shall  obtain  mercy,"  and  with  the  declaration  of  Solomon, 
"  He  who  giveth  to  the  poor  lendeth  to  the  Loixl." 

In  the  excess  of  his  zeal  of  benevolence  he  was  disposed 
to  forgive  all  criminals.  Thus  crime  was  greatly  multiplied, 
and  the  very  existence  of  the  state  became  endangered.  The 
clergy,  in  a  body,  remonstrated  with  him,  assuring  him  that 
God  had  placed  him  upon  the  throne  expressly  that  he  might 
punish  the  wicked  and  thus  protect  the  good.  He  felt  the 
force  of  this  reasoning,  and  instituted,  though  with  much  re- 
luctance, a  more  rigorous  government.  War  had  been  his 
passion.  In  this  respect  also  his  whole  nature  seemed  to  be 
changed,  and  nothing  but  the  most  dire  necessity  could  lead 
him  to  an  appeal  to  arms.  The  princess  Anne  appears  to 
have  been  a  sincere  Christian,  and  to  have  exerted  the  most 
salutary  influence  upon  the  mind  of  her  husband.  In  the 
midst  of  these  great  ineasui'cs  of  relnrm,  sudden  sickness 
seized  Vlademer  in  his  palace,  and  lu;  died,  in  the  year  1015, 


58  THE      EMPIRK      OF      RUSSIA. 

SO  unexjDectedly  that  lie  a])pointed  no  successor.  His  deatli 
caused  universal  lamentations,  and  thousands  crowded  to  the 
church  of  Notre  Dame,  to  take  a  last  look  of  their  beloved 
sovereign,  whose  body  reposed  there  for  a  time  in  state,  in  a 
marble  coffin.  The  remains  were  then  deposited  by  the  side 
of  his  last  wife,  the  Christian  princess  Anne,  who  had  died  a 
few  years  before.     The  Russian  histoi'ian,  Karamsin,  says  : 

"  This  prince,  whom  the  church  has  recM^gnized  as  equal 
to  the  apostles,  merits  from  history  the  title  of  Great.  It  is 
God  alone  who  can  know  whether  Vlademer  was  a  true  Chris- 
tian at  heart,  or  if  he  were  influenced  simply  by  political  con- 
siderations. It  is  sufficient  for  us  to  state  that,  after  having 
embraced  that  divine  religion,  Vlademer  appears  to  have  been 
sanctified  by  it,  and  he  developed  a  totally  different  character 
from  that  which  he  exhibited  when  involved  in  the  darkness 
of  jjaganism." 

One  of  the  sons  of  Vlademer,  whose  name  was  Sviatopolk, 
chanced  to  be  at  Kief  at  the  time  of  his  father's  death.  He 
resolved  to  usurp  the  throne  and  to  cause  the  assassination 
of  all  the  brothers  from  whom  he  could  fear  any  opposition. 
Three  of  his  brothers  speedily  fell  victims  to  his  bloody  per- 
fidy. Yaroslaf,  who  had  been  entrusted  with  the  feudal  gov 
ernment  of  Novgorod,  being  informed  of  the  death  of  his 
father,  of  the  usurpation  of  Sviatopolk  and  of  the  assassina- 
tion of  three  of  his  brothers,  raised  an  army  of  forty  thou- 
sand men  and  marched  upon  Kief  Sviatopolk,  informed  of  his 
a])proach,  hastened,  with  all  his  troops  to  meet  iiim.  The  two 
armies  encountered  each  other  u|)on  the  banks  of  the  Dnieper 
about  one  hundred  and  fifty  miles  above  Kief.  The  river 
separated  them,  and  neither  dared  to  attempt  to  cross  in  the 
presence  of  the  othei-.  Several  weeks  ])assed,  the  two  camps 
thus  fiicing  each  other,  without  any  collision. 

At  length  Yaroslaf,  with  the  Novgorodians,  crossed  the 
stream  stealthily  and  silently  in  a  dai'k  night,  and  fell  fiercely 
upon  the  sleeping  camp  of  Sviato])olk.     His  troojjs,  thus  taken 


REIGN      I)  F      Y  A  R  O  S  L  A  F  .  59 

by  surprise,  fought  fur  a  short  time  tles})erate]y.  They  were 
however  soon  cut  to  pieces  or  dispersed,  and  Sviatopolk,  liini- 
self,  saved  his  Hfe  only  by  precipitate  flight.  Yarcshifj  thus  sig- 
nally victorious,  continued  liis  marcli,  without  furtlier  oppo.si- 
tion,  to  Kief,  and  entered  the  capital  in  triumph.  Sviatopolk 
tied  to  Poland,  secured  the  cooperation  of  the  Polish  king, 
■whose  daughter  he  had  married,  returned  with  a  numerous 
army,  defeated  his  brother  in  a  sanguinary  battle,  drove  him 
back  to  Novgorod,  and  again,  -with  flying  banners,  took  pos- 
session of  Kief  The  path  of  history  now  leads  us  through 
the  deepest  sloughs  of  perfldy  and  crime.  Two  of  the  sisteis 
of  Yaroslaf  were  found  in  Kief  One  of  them  had  previonslv 
refused  the  hand  of  the  king  of  Poland.  Tlie  barbarian  in 
revenge  seized  her  as  his  concubine,  Sviatopolk,  jealous 
of  the  authority  \Ahich  his  f;ither-in-law  claimed,  and  which 
he  could  enforce  by  means  of  the  Polish  army,  administered 
poison  in  the  food  of  the  troops.  A  terrible  and  unknown 
disease  broke  out  in  the  camp,  and  thousands  perished.  The 
wretch  even  attempted  to  poison  his  father-in-law,  but  the 
crime  was  suspected,  and  the  Polish  king,  Boleslas,  fled  to  his 
own  realms. 

Sviatopolk  was  thus  agahi  left  so  helpless  as  to  invite  at- 
tack, Yaroslaf  with  eagerness  availed  himself  of  the  oi)por-- 
tunity.  Raising  a  new  army,  he  marched  upon  Kief,  retook 
the  city  and  drove  his  brother  again  into  exile.  The  ener- 
getic yet  miserable  man  fled  to  the  banks  of  the  Volga,  where 
he  formed  a  large  army  of  the  ierocious  Petchenegues,  excit- 
ing their  cupidity  with  ])romises  of  boundless  pillage,  Witli 
these  wollish  legions,  he  commenced  his  march  back  again 
upon  his  own  country,  Tiie  ten-ible  encounter  took  i)lace  on 
the  banks  of  the  Alta,  Russian  liistorians  describe  the  con- 
flict as  one  of  the  most  fierce  in  which  men  have  ever  en- 
gaged. The  two  armies  precipitated  themselves  upon  each 
other  with  the  utmost  fury,  breast  to  breast,  swords,  javelins 
and   clubs    clnshing   against  brazen  shields.     The  Novgorod- 


GO  TIIEEMPIREOFRUSSIA. 

ians  had  taktii  a  solemn  oath  that  they  would  conquer  or  die. 
Three  times  the  combatants  from  sheer  exhaustion  ceased  the 
stnfe.  Three  times  the  deadly  combat  was  renewed  with  re- 
doubled ardor.  The  sky  Avas  illumined  with  the  lirst  rays  of 
the  morning  wiien  the  battle  commenced.  The  evening  twi- 
light was  already  darkening  the  field  before  the  victory  was 
decided.  The  hordes  of  the  wretched  Sviatopolk  were  then 
dri\eu  in  rabble  rout  from  the  field,  leaving  the  ground  cov- 
ered with  the  slain.  The  defeat  was  so  awful  that  Sviatopolk 
was  pUmged  into  utter  despair.  Half  dead  with  terror,  tor- 
tured by  remorse,  and  pursued  by  the  frown  of  Heaven,  he 
lied  into  the  deserts  of  Bohemia,  where  he  miserably  perished, 
an  object  of  universal  execration.  In  tho  annals  of  Russia  the 
surname  of  miserable  is  ever  affixed  to  this  infamous  prince. 

Yaroslaf,  thus  crowned  by  victory,  received  the  undisputed 
title  of  sovereign  of  Russia.  It  was  now  the  year  1020.  For 
several  years  Yaroslaf  reigned  in  prosperity.  There  were  oc- 
casional risings  of  barbaric  tribes,  which,  by  force  of  arms,  be 
speedily  quelled.  Much  time  and  treasure  were  devoted  to 
the  embellishment  of  the  capital;  churches  were  erected;  the 
city  was  surrounded  by  brick  walls ;  institutions  of  learning 
were  encouraged,  and,  most  important  of  all,  the  Bible  was 
translated  into  the  Russian  language.  It  is  recorded  that  the 
king  devoutly  read  the  Scriptures  himself,  both  morning  and 
evening,  and  took  great  interest  in  copying  the  sacred  books 
with  his  own  hands. 

The  closing  years  of  life  this  illustrious  prince  passed  in 
repose  and  in  the  exercises  of  piety,  while  he  still  continued, 
with  unintermitted  zeal,  to  watch  over  the  welfare  of  the 
state.  Nearly  all  the  pastors  of  the  churches  were  Greeks 
from  Constantinople,  and  Yaroslaf,  apprehensive  that  the 
Greeks  might  acquire  too  much  influence  in  the  empire,  made 
great  eft'orts  to  raise  up  Russian  ecclesiastics,  and  to  place 
them  in  the  most  important  posts.  At  length  the  last  hours 
of  the  monarch   arrived,  and   it  was  evident  that  death  was 


REIGNOFYAROSLAF.  61 

near.     He  assembled   his  cliiklren  around  his   bed.  four  sons 
and  five  daughters,  and  thus  alieclingly  addressed  them  : 

"  I  am  about  to  leave  the  world.  I  trust  that  you,  my 
dear  children,  will  not  only  remember  that  you  are  brothers 
and  sisters,  but  that  you  will  clierish  for  each  other  the  most 
tender  affection.  Ever  bear  in  mind  that  discord  among  you 
will  be  attended  Avith  the  most  funereal  results,  and  that  it 
will  be  destructive  of  the  prosperity  of  the  state.  By  peace 
and  tranquillity  alone  can  its  power  be  consolidated. 

"Ysiaslaf  will  be  my  successor  to  ascend  the  throne  of  Kief. 
Obey  him  as  you  have  obeyed  your  father.  I  give  Tclierni- 
gof  to  Sviatoslaf ;  Pereaslavle  to  Vsevolod ;  and  Smolensk 
to  Yiatcheslaf  I  hope  that  each  of  you  will  be  satisfied  with 
his  inheritance.  Your  oldest  brother,  in  his  quality  of  sov- 
ereign prince,  will  be  your  natural  judge.  He  will  protect 
the  oppressed  and  punish  the  guilty." 

On  the  10th  of  February,  1054,  Yaroslaf  died,  in  the 
seventy-tirst  year  of  his  age.  His  subjects  followed  his  i-e- 
raains  in  tears  to  the  tomb,  in  the  church  of  St.  Sophia, 
where  his  marble  monument,  carved  by  Grecian  artists,  is  still 
shown.  Influenced  by  a  superstition  common  in  those  days, 
he  caused  the  bones  of  Oleg  and  Yaropolk,  tlie  two  murdered 
brothers  of  Vlademer,  who  had  perished  in  the  errors  o{ 
paganism,  to  be  disinterred,  baptized,  and  then  consigned  to 
Chiistian  burial  in  the  church  of  Kief  He  established  the 
Krst  public  school  in  Russia,  where  three  hundred,  young 
men,  s(jns  of  the  priests  and  nobles,  received  instruction  in 
all  those  branches  which  would  pre])are  them  for  civil  or 
ecclesiastical  life.  Ambitious  of  making  Kief  the  rival  of  Con- 
stantinople, he  expended  large  smns  in  its  decoration.  Gre- 
cian artists  were  munificently  patronized,  and  paintings  and 
mosaics  of  e.\<piisite  workmanship  added  attraction  to 
churches  reare<l  in  the  highest  style  of  existing  art.  He 
I'.ven  sent  to  Greece  for  singers,  that  the  churc-h  choirs 
mifiht   be    instructed    in    the    richest    utterances   of    music. 


62  THE     EMPIRE     OF     RUSSIA. 

He  drew  up  a  code  of  laws,  called  Russian  Justice,  which, 
for  that  dark  age,  is  a  marvelous  monument  of  sagacity, 
comiH'ehensive  views  and  equity. 

The  death  of  Yaroslaf  proved  an  irreparable  calamity ; 
foi-  his  successor  was  incapable  of  leading  on  in  the  march  of 
civilization,  and  the  realm  was  soon  distracted  by  civil  war. 
It  is  a  gloomy  period,  of  three  hundred  years,  upon  which 
we  now  must  enter,  while  violence,  ciime,  and  consequently 
misery,  desolated  the  land.  It  is  worthy  of  record  that 
Nestor  attributes  the  woes  which  ensued,  to  the  general  for- 
getfulness  of  God,  and  the  impiety  which  commenced  the 
reign  immediately  after  the  death  of  Yaroslaf 

"God  is  just,"  writes  the  historian.  "He  punishes  the 
Russians  for  their  sins.  We  dare  to  call  ourselves  Christians, 
and  yet  we  live  like  idolaters.  Alihough  multitudes  throng 
every  place  of  entertainment,  although  the  sound  of  trumpets 
and  harps  resounds  in  our  houses,  and  mountebanks  exhibit 
their  tricks  and  dances,  the  temples  of  God  are  empty,  sur- 
rendered to  solitude  and  silence." 

Bands  of  barbarians  invaded  Russia  from  tlie  distant  re- 
gions of  the  Caspian  Sea,  plundering,  killing  and  burning. 
They  came  suddenly,  like  the  thunder-cloud  in  a  summer's 
day,  and  as  suddenly  disappeared  where  no  pursuit  could  find 
them.  Ambitious  nobles,  descendants  of  former  kings,  plied 
all  the  arts  of  perfidy  and  of  assassination  to  get  possession 
of  d liferent  provinces  of  the  empire,  each  hoping  to  make  his 
province  central  and  to  extend  his  sway  over  all  the  rest  of 
Russia,  The  brothers  of  Ysiaslaf  became  embroiled,  and  drew 
the  sword  against  each  otlier.  An  insurrection  was  excited 
in  Kief,  the  populace  besieged  the  palace,  and  the  king  saved 
his  life  only  by  a  precipitate  abandonment  of  his  capital.  The 
miHlary  mob  pillaged  the  palace  and  proclaimed  their  chief- 
tain, Ysc^laf,  king. 

Ysiaslaf  fled  to  Poland.  T:.c  Polish  king,  Boleslas  II., 
who   was  a  grandson  of  Vlademer,  and  who  had  married  a 


REIGNOFYSIASLAF.  G3 

Russian  princess,  reoeivecl  the  fugitive  king  witli  tlie  utmost 
kindness.  With  a  strong  PoHsh  army,  accompanied  by  the 
King  of  Pohxiid,  Ysiaslaf  returned  to  Kief,  to  recover  liis 
capital  by  the  sword.  Tlie  insurgent  chief  who  had  usurped 
the  throne,  in  cowardly  terror  fled.  Ysiaslaf  entered  the  city 
Avith  the  stern  strides  of  a  conqueror  and  wreaked  horrible 
vengeance  upon  the  inhabitants,  making  but  little  discrimina- 
tion between  the  innocent  and  the  guilty.  Seventy  were  put 
to  death.  A  large  number  had  their  eyes  plucked  out;  and 
for  a  long  time  the  city  resounded  with  the  cries  of  the  vic- 
tims, suffering  under  all  kinds  of  punishments  from  the  hands 
of  this  imi)lacable  monarch.  Thus  the  citizens  were  speedily 
brought  into  abject  submission.  The  Polish  king,  with  his 
army,  remained  a  long  lime  at  Kief,  luxuriating  in  every  in- 
dulgence at  the  expense  of  the  inhabitants.  He  then  re- 
turned to  his  own  country  laden  with  riches. 

Ysiaslaf  re-ascended  the  throne,  having  been  absent  ten 
months.  Disturbances  of  a  similar  character  agitated  the 
provinces  which  were  under  the  government  of  the  brothers 
of  Ysiaslaf,  and  which  had  assumed  the  authority  and  dignity 
of  independent  kingdoms.  Thus  all  Russia  was  but  an  arena 
of  war,  a  volcanic  crater  of  flame  and  blood.  Three  years  of 
conflict  and  woe  passed  away,  when  two  of  the  brothers  of 
Ysiaslaf  united  their  armies  and  marched  against  him  ;  and 
again  he  was  compelled  to  seek  a  refuge  in  Poland.  lie  car- 
ried with  him  inniiense  treasure,  hoping  thus  again  to  engage 
the  services  of  the  Polish  army.  But  Boleslas  iniamously 
robbed  him  of  his  treasure,  and  then,  to  use  an  expression  of 
Nestor,  "  shoioed  him  the  ivay  out  of  his  kiiu/dom.'''' 

The  woe-stricken  exik;  fled  to  Germany,  and  entreated  the 
inter])Osition  of  the  emperor,  Henry  IV.,  promising  to  reward 
him  with  immense  treasure,  and  to  hold  the  crown  of  Russia 
as  tributary  to  the  German  empire.  The  emperor  was  ex- 
cited by  the  alluring  offer,  and  sent  embassadors  to  Hviatoslaf, 
now  enthroned  at  Kief,  ostensibly  to  propose  reconciliation, 


64  THE     E  M  P  I  U  E      OF      RUSSIA. 

but  in  reality  to  ascertain  what  the  probability  was  of  success 
in  a  wavlike  expedition  to  so  remote  a  kingdom.  The  embas- 
sadors returned  with  a  very  discouraging  report. 

The  banished  prince  thus  disappointed,  turned  his  steps  to 
Rome,  and  implored  the  aid  of  Gregory  VII.,  that  renowned 
pontiif,  who  was  ambitious  of  univei'sal  sovei-eignty,  and  who 
had  assumed  the  title  of  King  of  kings.  Ysiaslaf,  in  his  humil- 
iation, was  ready  to  renounce  his  fidelity  to  the  Greek  church, 
and  also  the  dignity  of  an  independent  prince.  He  promised, 
in  coiisideraiton  of  the  support  of  the  pope,  to  I'ecognize  not 
only  the  spiritual  power  of  Rome,  but  also  the  temporal  au- 
thority of  the  i)ontift'.  He  also  entered  bitter  complaints 
against  the  King  of  Poland.  Ysiaslaf  did  not  visit  Rome  in 
person,  but  sent  his  son  to  confer  with  the  pope.  Gregory, 
rejoiced  to  acquire  spiritual  dominion  over  Russia,  received 
the  aj^plication  in  the  most  friendly  manner,  and  sent  embas- 
sadors to  the  fugitive  prince  witii  the  following  letter: 

"  Gregory,  bishop,  servant  of  the  servants  of  God,  to 
Ysiaslaf,  prince  of  the  Russians,  safety,  health  and  the  apos- 
tolic benediction. 

"Your  son,  after  having  visited  the  sacred  places  at  Rome, 
has  humbly  implored  that  he  might  be  reestablished  in  his 
possessions  by  the  authority  of  Saint  Peter,  and  has  given  his 
solenni  vow  to  be  fiithful  to  the  chief  of  the  apostles.  We 
have  consented  to  grant  his  request,  which  we  understand  is 
in  accordance  with  your  wishes ;  and  we,  in  the  name  of  the 
chief  of  the  apostles,  confer  upon  him  the  government  of  the 
Russian  kingdom. 

"  We  pray  that  Saint  Peter  may  preserve  your  health,  that 
he  will  protect  your  reign  and  your  estates,  even  to  the  end 
of  your  life,  and  that  you  may  then  enjoy  a  day  of  eternal 
glory. 

"  Wishing  also  to  give  a  proof  of  our  desire  to  be  useful 
to  you  hereafter,  we  have  charged  our  embassadors,  one  of 
whom  is  your  faithful  friend,  to  treat  with  you  verbally  upon 


REIGN      OF     YSIASLAF.  65 

all  those  subjects  alluded  to  in  your  communication  to  us. 
Receive  them  with  kindness  as  the  embassadors  of  Saint  J\'ter, 
and  receive  \vitl)out  restriction  all  the  propositions  they  may 
make  in  our  name. 

'■  May  God,  the  all-powerful,  illumine  your  heart  with 
divine  light  and  with  temporal  blessings,  and  conduct  you  to 
eternal  glory.  Given  at  Rome  the  15th  of  May,  in  the  year 
lOVo," 

Thus  adroitly  the  po])e  assumed  the  sovereignty  of  Russia, 
and  the  right,  and  the  power,  by  the  mere  utterance  of  a 
word,  to  conter  it  upon  whom  he  would.  The  all-grasping 
pontitf  thus  annexed  Russia  to  the  domains  of  Saint  Peter. 
Another  short  letter  Gregory  wrote  to  the  King  of  Poland. 
It  was  as  toUows  : 

"  In  apjirojjriating  to  yourself  illegally  the  treasures  of  the 
Russian  prince,  you  liave  violated  the  Cliristian  virtues.  I 
conjure  you,  in  the  name  of  God,  to  restore  to  him  all  the 
property  of  which  you  and  your  subjects  have  deprived  him ; 
for  robbers  can  never  enter  the  kingdom  of  heaven  unless 
they  first  restore  the  plunder  they  have  taken." 

Fortunately  for  "the  fugitive  prince,  his  usurping  brother 
Sviatoslaf  just  at  this  time  died,  in  consequence  of  a  severe 
surgical  operation.  The  Polish  king  appears  to  have  refunded 
the  treasure  of  which  he  had  robbed  the  exiled  monarch,  and 
Ysiaslat'  hiring  an  army  of  Polish  mercenaries,  returned  a 
seconil  time  iu  triumpii  to  his  caiatal.  It  does  not  a])pear  that 
he  subsequently  p;iid  any  regard  to  the  interposition  of  the 
pope. 

We  have  now  but  a  long  succession  of  conspiracies,  insur- 
rections and  battles.  In  one  of  these  ci\  il  confiicts,  Ysiaslaf, 
at  the  liead  of  a  formidable  force,  met  another  powerful  army, 
but  a  few  leagues  from  Kief  In  the  hottest  hour  of  the  liattlo 
a  reckless  cavalier,  in  the  hostile  ranks,  perceiving  Ysiaslaf  in 
the  midst  of  his  infantry,  precipitated  himself  on  him,  pierced 
him  with  his  lance  and  threw  him  dead  upon  the  ground.    His 


66  THE     EMPIRE      OF     K  U  S  S  I  A . 

body  was  conveyed  in  a  canoe  to  Kief,  and  buried  with  much 
funeral  pomp  in  the  churcli  of  Xotre  Dame,  by  the  side  of  the 
beautiful  monument  which  had  been  erected  to  the  memory 
of  Ylademer. 

Ysiaslaf  expunged  from  the  Russian  code  of  laws  the  deatli 
penalty,  and  substituted,  in  its  stead,  heavy  fines.  The  Rus- 
sian liistorians,  however,  record  that  it  is  impossible  to  decide 
whether  this  measui-e  was  the  dictate  of  humanity,  or  if  he 
wished  in  this  way  to  replenish  his  treasury. 

Vsevolod  succeeded  to  the  throne  of  his  brother  Ysiaslaf, 
in  the  year  lOTS.  The  children  of  Ysiaslaf  had.  provinces  as- 
signed them  in  appanage.  Ysevolod  was  a  lover  of  peace,  and 
yet  devastation  and  carnage  were  spread  everywhere  before 
his  eyes.  Every  province  in  the  eni[)ire  was  torn  by  civil 
strife.  Hundreds  of  nobles  and  })rinces  were  inflamed  witii 
the  ambition  for  supremacy,  and  witli  the  sword  alone  could 
the  path  be  cut  to  renown.  The  wages  offered  the  soldiers, 
on  all  sides,  was  pillage.  Cities  were  everywhere  sacked  and 
burned,  and  the  realm  v/as  crimsoned  with  blood.  Civil  war 
is  necessarily  followed  by  tlie  woes  of  famine,  which  woes 
are  ever  followed  by  the  pestilence.  The  plague  swept  the 
kingdom  with  terrific  violence,  and  whole  provinces  were  de- 
populated. In  the  city  of  Kief  alone,  seven  thousand  per- 
ished in  the  course  of  ten  weeks.  Universal  terror,  and  su- 
jDcrstitious  fear  spread  through  the  nation.  An  earthquake 
indicated  that  the  world  itself  was  trembling  in  alarm ;  an 
enormous  serpent  was  reported  to  have  been  seen  falling  from 
heaven  ;  invisible  and  malignant  spirits  were  riding  by  day 
and  by  night  through  the  streets  of  the  cities,  wounding  the 
citizens  with  blows  which,  tliough  unseen,  were  lieavy  and 
murderous,  and  by  which  blows  many  were  slain.  All  hearts 
sank  in  gloom  and  fear.  Barbarian  hordes  ravaged  both 
banks  (  f  the  Dnieper,  conunitting  towns  and  villages  to  the 
flames,  and  killing  such  of  the  inhabitants  as  they  did  not 
wisli  to  carry  away  as  captives. 


11  E  I  (i  X      OF      V  S  E  V  O  L  O  D.  67 

Vsevolod,  an  amiaLle  man  of  but  very  little  force  of  char- 
acter, was  crushed  by  the  calamities  which  were  overwhelm- 
ing his  country.  Xot  an  hour  of  tranquillity  could  he  enjoy. 
It  was  the  ambition  of  his  nephews,  ambitious,  energetic,  ini- 
pi-incipled  princes,  struggling  for  the  supremacy,  which  was 
mainly  tlie  cause  of  all  these  disasters. 


CHAPTER    IV. 

YEARS    OF    WAii    AND    WOE. 
From  1092  to  11G7. 

CHAKACTBB  of  VSEVOI-OD. — SrOCKBSlON  OF   SVIATOPOLK. — HlS   DISCOMFITURE. — DePI.OR- 

ABLE  Condition  OF  Russia.— Death  or  Sviatopolk. — His  Character. — Accession 

OF  MONOMAQUE. — ClTRlOUS  FESTIVAL  AT  KlEF. — EnERGV  OF  MONOMAQHE. — xVlaRM  OF 
THE   EmI'EROR  at  CONSTANTINOPLE. — IIORRORS  OF  WaR. — DeATII    OP  MONOMAQIJE. — 

His  Ke-markable  Chaeactei;. — Pious  Letter  to  his  Children. — Accession  op 
Mstislaf.  — His  Shout  but  Stormy  Reign — Struggles  for  the  Throne. — Final 
Victory  of  Ysiaslaf. — Moscow  in  the  Province  of  Souzdal. — Death  of  Ysias- 
laf. — Wonderful  Career  of  Rostislaf. — Rising  Power  of  Moscow. — Geokgie- 
^^^CII,  Prince  of  Moscow. 

ySEYOLOD  has  the  voputation  of  having  been  a  man  of 
piety.  But  lie  was  quite  destitute  of  that  force  of  char- 
acter which  one  i-equired  to  liold  the  hehn  in  such  stormy 
times.  He  was  a  man  of  great  liumanity  and  of  unblemished 
morals.  The  woes  which  desolated  his  realms,  and  which  he 
was  utterly  unable  to  avert,  crushed  his  spirit  and  hastened 
his  death.  Perceiving  that  his  dying  hour  was  at  hand,  he 
sent  for  liis  two  sons,  Yladenier  and  Rostislaf,  and  the  sorrow- 
ing old  man  breathed  his  last  in  their  arms. 

Vsevolod  Avas  the  favorite  son  of  Yaroslaf  the  Great, 
.and  his  father,  with  his  dying  breath,  had  expressed  the  wish 
that  Vsevolod,  Avhen  death  should  come  to  him,  might  be 
placed  in  the  tomb  by  his  side.  These  affectionate  wishes  of 
the  dying  father  were  gratilied,  and  the  remains  of  Vsevolod 
were  deposited,  with  the  most  imposing  cei'emonies  of  those 
days,  in  the  church  of  Saint  Sophia,  by  the  side  of  those  of 
his  father.  The  people,  forgetting  his  weakness  and  remem- 
bering only  his  amiability,  wept  at  his  burial. 


YEAKS      OF     "WAK      A  AD      WOE.  69 

Vlademer,  the  eldest  son  of  Vsevolod,  with  great  magna- 
nimity siurendered  the  crown  to  his  cousin  Sviatopolk,  saying, 

"•  His  lather  was  older  than  mine,  and  reigned  at  Kief  be- 
fore my  father.  I  wish  to  avoid  dissension  aud  the  horrors  of 
civil  war." 

He  then  proclaimed  Sviatopolk  sovereign  of  Russia.  The 
new  sovereign  had  been  feudal  lord  of  the  province  of  Nov- 
gorod ;  he,  however,  soon  left  his  northern  capital  to  take  up 
his  residence  in  the  more  imperial  palaces  of  Kief.  But  dis- 
aster seemed  to  be  the  doom  of  Russia,  and  the  sounds  of  re- 
joicing which  attended  his  accession  to  the  throne  had  hardly 
died  away  ere  a  new  scene  of  woe  burst  upon  the  devoted  land. 

The  young  king  was  rash  and  headstrong.  He  provoked 
the  ire  of  one  of  the  strong  neighboring  provinces,  which  was 
under  the  sway  of  an  energetic  I'eudal  prince,  ostensibly  a  vassal 
of  the  crown,  but  who,  in  his  pride  and  power,  arrogated  inde- 
pendence. The  banners  of  a  hostile  army  were  soon  approach- 
ing Kief  Sviatopolk  marched  heroically  to  meet  them,  A 
battle  was  fought,  in  which  he  and  his  army  were  awfully 
defeated.  Thousands  were  driven  by  the  conquerors  into  a 
stream,  swollen  by  the  lains,  where  they  miserably  perished. 
The  fugitives,  led  by  Sviatopolk,  in  dismay  tied  back  to  Kief 
and  took  refuge  behind  the  walls  of  the  city.  The  enemy 
l)ressed  on,  ravaging,  witli  the  most  cruel  desolation,  the  whole 
region  around  Kief,  and  in  a  second  battle  conquered  the  king 
and  drove  him  out  of  his  realms.  The  whole  of  southern 
Russia  was  abandoned  to  barbaric  destruction.  Nestor  gives 
a  graphic  sketch  of  the  misery  which  prevailed  : 

"  (Jne  saw  everywhere,"  he  writes,  "  villages  in  tlanies ; 
churches,  houses,  granaries  were  reduced  to  heaps  of  ashes; 
and  the  unfortunate  citizens  were  either  expiring  beneath  the 
blows  of  their  enemies,  or  were  awaiting  death  with  terror. 
Prisoners,  half  naked,  were  dragged  in  chains  to  the  most 
distant  and  savage  regions.  As  they  toiled  along,  they  said, 
weeping,  one  to  another,  '  /  am  from  ,si/c/i  a  villaf/e,  and  I 


70  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

from  such  a  village?  No  horses  or  cattle  were  to  be  seen 
upon  our  plains.  The  fields  were  abandoned  to  weeds,  and 
ferocious  beasts  ranged  the  places  but  recently  occupied  by 
Christians." 

The  whole  reign  of  Sviatopolk,  which  continued  until  the 
year  1113,  was  one  continued  storm  of  war.  It  would  only 
weary  the  reader  to  endeavor  to  disentangle  the  labyrinth  of 
confusion,  and  to  describe  the  ebbings  and  fioodings  of  battle. 
Every  man's  hand  was  against  his  neighbor ;  and  friends  to- 
day were  foes  to-morrow.  Sviatopolk  himself  was  one  of  the 
most  imperfect  of  men.  He  was  perfidious,  ungrateful  and 
suspicious ;  haughty  in  prosperity,  mean  and  cringing  in  ad- 
versity. His  religion  was  the  inspiration  of  superstition  and 
cowardice,  not  of  intelligence  and  love.  Whenever  he  em- 
barked upon  any  important  expedition,  he  took  an  ecclesiastic 
to  the  tomb  of  Saint  Theodosius,  there  to  implore  the  bless- 
ing of  Heaven.  If  successful  in  the  enterprise,  he  returned  to 
the  tomb  to  give  thanks.  This  was  the  beginning  and  the  end 
of  his  piety.  AVithout  any  scruple  he  violated  the  most  sacred 
laws  of  morality.  The  marriage  vow  was  entirely  disregarded, 
and  he  was  e\  er  ready  to  commit  any  crime  which  ^vould 
afiibrd  graliiication  to  his  passions,  or  which  would  advance 
his  interests. 

The  death  of  Sviatopolk  occurred  in  a  season  of  general 
anarchy,  and  it  was  uncertain  who  v.ould  si'ize  the  throne. 
The  citizens  of  Kief  met  in  solemn  and  anxious  assembly, 
and  ofl:ered  the  crown  to  an  illustrious  noble,  Monoinaque,  a 
brother  of  Sviatopolk,  and  a  man  who  had  acquired  renown 
in  many  enterprises  of  most  desperate  daring.  In  truth  it 
required  energy  and  courage  of  no  ordinary  character  for  a 
man  at  that  time  to  accept  the  crown.  Innumerable  assailants 
would  immediately  fdl  upon  hiui,  putting  to  the  most  immi- 
nent peril  not  only  the  crown,  but  the  head  which  wore  it. 
By  the  Russian  custom  of  descent,  the  crown  incontestably 
belonged  to  the  oldest  son  of  Sviatoslaf,  and  Monomaque,  out 


YEAKS      OF      WAK      AND      WOE.  71 

of  regard  to  his  rights,  decUiied  the  proffered  gitl.  This 
refusal  was  accompanied  by  the  most  melancholy  results.  A 
terrible  tumult  broke  out  in  the  city.  There  was  no  arm  vt' 
law  sufficiently  powerful  to  restrain  the  mob,  and  anarchy, 
■with  all  its  desolation,  reigned  for  a  time  triumphant.  A  dep- 
utation of  the  most  influential  citizens  of  Kief  was  immedi- 
ately sent  to  Monomaque,  with  the  most  earnest  entreaty  that 
he  would  hasten  to  rescue  them  and  their  city  from  the  impend- 
ing ruin.  The  heroic  prince  could  not  turn  a  deaf  ear  to  this 
appeal.  He  hastened  to  the  city,  where  his  presence,  com- 
bined with  the  knowledge  which  all  had  of  his  energy  and 
"courage,  at  once  appeased  the  tumult.  He  ascended  the 
throne,  greeted  by  the  acclamations  of  the  whole  city.  No 
opposition  ventured  to  manliest  itself,  and  Monomaque  was 
soon  in  the  undisputed  possession  of  power. 

Nothing  can  give  one  a  more  vivid  idea  of  the  state  of  the 
times  than  the  festivals  appointed  in  honor  of  the  new  reign 
as  described  by  the  ancient  annalists.  The  bones  of  two 
saints  were  transferred  fiom  one  church  to  another  in  the 
city.  A  magniiicent  coffin  of  silver,  embellished  with  gold,  pre- 
cious stones,  and  bas  reliefs,  so  exquisitely  carved  as  to  excite 
the  admiration  even  of  the  Grecian  artists,  contained  the  sacred 
relics,  and  excited  the  wonder  and  veneration  of  the  whole 
multitude.  The  imposing  ceremony  drew  to  Kief  the  princes, 
the  clergy,  the  lords,  the  warriors,  even,  from  the  most  dis- 
tant parts  of  the  empire.  The  gates  of  the  city  and  the  streets 
were  encumbered  with  such  multitudes  that,  in  order  to  open 
a  passage  for  the  clergy  with  the  sarcophagus,  the  monarch 
caused  clotlis,  garments,  precious  furs  and  ))ieces  of  silver  to 
be  scattered  to  draw  away  the  throng.  A  luxurious  feast  was 
given  to  the  princes,  and,  for  three;  days,  all  tlie  )>oor  of  the 
city  were  entertained  at  the  expense  of  the  public  treasure. 

Monomaque  now  fitted  out  sundry  expeditions  under  his 
enterprising  son  to  extend  the  territories  of  Russia  and  to 
bring    tumultuous   tribes    and    nations    into    subjection   and 


72  THE     EMTIKE      OP     KUSSIA. 

order.  His  son  Mstislaf  was  sent  into  the  country  of  the 
Tchoudes,  now  Livonia,  on  tlie  shores  of  the  Baltic.  He 
ovei'ran  the  territory,  seized  the  capital  and  established  order. 
His  son  Vsevolod,  \vho  was  stationed  at  Novgorod,  made  an 
expedition  into  Finland,  His  army  experienced  inconceivable 
sniferings  in  that  cold,  inhospitable  clime.  Still  they  over- 
awed the  inhabitants  and  secured  tranquillity.  Another  son, 
Georges,  marched  to  the  Yolga,  embarked  his  army  in  a  fleet 
of  barges,  and  floated  along  the  stream  to  eastern  Bulgaria, 
conquered  an  army  raised  to  oppose  him,  and  returned  to  his 
I^rincipality  laden  with  booty.  Another  son,  Yaropolk,  as- 
sailed the  tumultuous  tribes  upon  the  Don.  Brilliant  success 
accompanied  his  enterprise.  Among  his  captives  he  found 
one  maiden  of  such  rare  beauty  that  he  made  her  his  wife. 
At  the  same  time  the  kingdom  of  Russia  was  invaded  by  bar- 
barous hordes  from  the  shores  of  the  Caspian.  Monomaque 
himself  headed  an  army  and  assailed  the  invaders  with  such 
impetuosity  that  they  were  driven,  with  much  loss,  back  again 
to  their  wilds. 

The  military  renown  Monomaque  thus  attained  made  his 
name  a  terror  even  to  the  most  distant  tribes,  and,  for  a  time, 
held  in  awe  those  turbulent  spirits  who  had  been  filling  the 
world  with  violence.  Elated  by  his  conquests,  Monomaque 
fitted  out  an  exjiedition  to  Greece,  A  large  army  descended 
the  Dnieper,  took  possession  of  Thrace,  and  threatened  Adri- 
anople.  The  emperor,  in  great  alarm,  sent  embassadors  to 
Monomacpie  with  the  most  precious  presents.  There  was  a 
cornelian  exquisitely  cut  and  set,  a  golden  chain  and  necklace, 
a  crown  of  gold,  and,  most  precious  of  all,  a  crucifix  made  of 
wood  of  the  ti'ue  cross  !  The  metro})olitan  bishop  of  Ephe- 
sus,  who  was  sent  with  these  presents,  was  authorized,  in  the 
name  of  the  church  and  of  the  empire,  to  place  the  crown 
upon  the  brow  of  Monomaque  in  gorgeous  coronation  in  the 
cathedral  church  of  Kief,  and  to  proclaim  Monomaque  Em- 
pei'or  of  Russia.     This  crown,  called   the  f/olden  bonnet  of 


YEARS      OF     WAR     AND      WOE.  13 

Monomaquc^  is  still  preserved  in  the  Museum  of  Antiquities 
at  Moscow. 

These  were  dark  and  awful  days.  Horrible  as  war  now 
is,  it  was  tlien  attended  with  woes  now  unknown.  Gleb, 
prince  of  Minsk,  with  a  ferocious  band,  attacked  the  city  of 
Sloutsk  ;  after  a  terrible  scene  of  carnage,  in  which  most  of 
those  capable  of  bearing  arms  were  slain,  the  city  was  burned 
to  ashes,  and  all  the  survivors,  men,  women  and  children, 
were  driven  off  as  captives  to  the  banks  of  the  Dwina,  where 
they  were  incorporated  with  the  tribe  of  their  savage  con- 
queror. In  revenge,  Monomaque  sent  his  son  Yaropolk  to 
Droutsk,  one  of  the  cities  of  Gleb.  No  pen  can  dejuct  the 
liorrors  of  the  assault.  After  a  few  hours  of  dismay,  shriek- 
ings  and  blood,  the  city  was  in  ashes,  and  the  wretched  vic- 
tims of  man's  pride  and  revenge  were  conducted  to  the 
vicinity  of  Kief,  where  they  reared  their  huts,  and  in  widow- 
hood, orphanage  and  penury,  commenced  life  anew,  Gleb 
himself  in  this  foray  was  taken  prisoner,  conducted  to  Kief, 
and  detained  there  a  captive  until  he  died. 

Monomaque  reigned  thirteen  years,  during  which  time  lie 
was  incessantly  engaged  in  wars  with  the  audacious  nobles  of 
the  provinces  who  refused  to  recognize  his  supremacy,  and 
many  of  whom  were  equal  to  him  in  power.  lie  died  May 
10,  1126,  in  the  seventy-third  year  of  his  age,  renowned,  say 
the  ancient  annalists,  for  the  splendor  of  his  victories  and 
the  purity  of  his  morals.  He  was  fully  conscious  of  the 
approach  of  death,  and  seems  to  have  been  sustained,  in  that 
trying  hour,  by  the  consolations  of  religion.  He  lived  in  an 
age  of  darkness  and  of  tumult ;  but  he  was  a  man  of  prayer, 
and,  according  to  the  light  he  had,  he  walked  humbly  with 
(nrod.  Commending  his  soul  to  the  Saviour  he  fell  asleep.  It 
is  recorded  that  he  was  a  man  of  such  lively  emotions  that  his 
voice  often  trembled,  and  his  eyes  were  hlled  with  tears  as  he 
implored  God's  blessing  upon  his  distracted  country.  He 
wrote,  just  before  his  death,  a  long  letter  to  his  children,  con- 


74  THE      EMPIKK      OF      KUSSIA, 

ceived  in  the  most  lovely  spirit  of  piety.  We  have  space  but 
for  a  few  extracts  from  these  Christian  counsels  of  a  dying 
father.  The  whole  letter,  written  on  pai-chment,  is  still  pre- 
served in  the  archives  of  the  monarchy, 

"The  foundation  of  all  virtue,"  he  wrote,  "is  the  fear  of 
God  and  the  love  of  man.  O  my  dear  children,  praise  God 
and  love  your  fellow-men.  It  is  not  fasting,  it  is  not  solitude, 
it  is  not  a  monastic  life  which  will  secure  for  you  the  divine 
approval — it  is  doing  good  to  your  fellow-creatures  alone. 
Never  forget  the  poor.  Take  care  of  them,  and  ever  remem- 
ber that  your  wealth  comes  from  God,  and  that  it  is  only 
intrusted  to  you  for  a  short  time.  Do  not  hoard  up  your 
riches  ;  that  is  contrary  to  the  precepts  of  the  Saviour.  Be 
a  father  to  the  orphans,  the  protectors  of  widows,  and  never 
permit  the  powerful  to  oppress  the  weak.  Never  take  the 
name  of  God  in  vain,  and  never  violate  your  oath.  Do  not 
envy  the  triumph  of  the  wicked,  or  the  success  of  the  im- 
pious ;  but  abstain  from  every  thing  that  is  wrong.  Banish 
from  your  hearts  all  the  suggestions  of  pride,  and  remember 
that  we  are  all  perishable — to-day  full  of  life,  to-morrow  in 
the  tomb.  Regard  with  horror,  falsehood,  intemperance  and 
impurity — vices  equally  dangerous  to  the  body  and  to  the 
soul.  Treat  aged  men  with  the  same  res^Dect  with  which  you 
would  treat  your  parents,  and  love  all  men  as  your  brothers. 

"  When  you  make  a  journey  in  your  provinces,  do  not 
suffer  the  members  of  your  suite  to  inflict  the  least  injury 
upon  the  inhabitants.  Treat  with  particular  respect  strangers, 
of  whatever  quality,  and  if  you  can  not  confer  upon  them 
favors,  treat  them  with  a  sj>irit  of  benevolence,  since,  upon 
the  manner  with  M-hich  they  are  treated,  depends  the  evil  or 
good  report  which  they  will  take  back  with  tlieni  to  their 
own  land.  Salute  every  one  whom  you  meet.  Love  your 
wives,  but  do  not  permit  them  to  govern  you.  When  you 
have  learned  any  thing  useful,  endeavor  to  imprint  it  upon 
your  memory,  and  be  always  seeking  to  acquire  information. 


Y  K  A  it  S      O  F      \\'  A  R       A  N  D       W  O  E  .  75 

My  ihther  si>oke  five  languages,  a  iact  which  exciled  the  ad- 
miration of  strangers. 

"  Guard  against  idleness,  which  is  the  mother  of  all  vices. 
Man  ought  always  to  be  occupied.  When  you  are  traveling 
on  horseback,  instead  of  allowing  your  mind  to  wander  u[)on 
vain  thouglits,  recite  your  prayers,  or,  at  least,  repeat  the 
shortest  and  best  of  them  all :  '  6>A,  Lord.,  have  mercy  upon 
us.^  Never  retire  at  night  without  fiHiug  upon  your  knees 
before  God  in  prayer,  and  never  let  the  sun  find  you  in  your 
bed.  Always  go  to  church  at  an  early  hour  in  the  morning 
to  ofter  to  God  the  homage  of  your  first  and  fieshest  thoughts. 
This  was  the  custom  of  my  father  and  of  all  the  pious  people 
who  surrounded  him.  With  the  first  rays  of  the  sun  they 
praised  the  Lord,  and  exclaimed,  with  fervor,  '  Condescend, 
O  Lord,  with  thy  divine  light  to  illumine  my  soul.'  " 

The  faults  of  Monomaque  were  those  of  his  age,  non  vitta 
hominis^  sed  vitia  sceculi  y'  but  his  virtues  were  truly  Chris- 
tian, and  it  can  hardly  be  doubted  that,  as  his  eartiily  crown 
dropped  from  his  brow,  he  received  a  brighter  crown  in  hea- 
ven. Tlie  devastations  of  the  barbarians  in  that  day  were  so 
awful,  burning  cities  and  chui-ches,  and  massacring  women 
and  children,  that  they  were  regarded  as  enemies  of  the  hu- 
man race,  and  wei-e  pursued  with  exterminating  ven:^eance. 

Monomacpie  left  several  children  and  a  third  wife.  One 
of  his  wives,  Gyda,  was  a  daughter  of  Harold,  King  of  En- 
gland. His  oldest  son,  Mstislal^  succeeded  to  the  crown. 
His  brothers  received,  as  their  inlieritiince,  the  government 
of  extensive  provinces.  The  new  monarch,  inheriting  the  en- 
ergies and  tl)e  virtues  of  his  illustrious  sire,  had  long  been  re- 
nowned. Tile  barbarians,  east  of  the  Volga,  as  soon  as  they 
heard  of  the  death  of  Monomaque,  thought  that  Russia  would 
fall  an  easy  prey  to  their  arms.  In  immense  numbers  they 
crossed  the  river,  spreading  far  and  wide  the  most  awful  dev- 
astation. But  Mstislaf  fell  uj)on  them  with  such  impetuosity 
that  they  were  routed  with  great  slaughter  and  driven  back 


76  TUE     EMPIRE      OFRUSSIA. 

to  their  wilds.  Their  chastisement  was  so  severe  that,  for  a 
long  time,  they  were  intimidated  from  any  further  incursions. 
With  wonderful  energy,  Mstislaf  attacked  many  of  the  tribu- 
tary nations,  who  had  claimed  a  sort  of  independence,  and 
who  were  ever  rising  in  insurrection.  He  speedily  brought 
them  into  subjection  to  his  sway,  and  placed  over  them  rulers 
devoted  to  his  interests.  In  the  dead  of  winter  an  exjiedition 
was  marched  against  the  Tchoudes,  who  inhabited  the  south- 
ern shores  of  the  bay  of  Finland.  The  men  were  put  to  death, 
the  cities  and  villages  burned  ;  the  women  and  children  were 
brought  away  as  captives  and  incorporated  with  the  Russian 
people. 

Mstislaf  reigned  but  about  four  years,  when  he  suddenly 
died  in  the  sixtieth  year  of  his  age.  His  whole  reign  Avas  an 
incessant  warfare  with  insurgent  chiefs  and  barbarian  invaders. 
There  is  an  awful  record,  at  this  time,  of  the  scourge  of  famine 
added  to  the  miseries  of  war.  All  the  northern  provinces  suf- 
fered terribly  from  this  frown  of  God.  Immense  quantities  of 
snow  covered  the  ground  even  to  the  month  of  May.  The 
snow  then  melted  suddenly  with  heavy  rains,  deluging  the 
fields  with  water,  which  slowly  retired,  converting  the  coun- 
try into  a  wide-spread  marsh.  It  was  very  late  before  any 
seed  could  be  sown.  The  grain  had  but  just  begun  to  sprout 
when  myriads  of  locusts  appeared,  devouring  every  green 
thing.  A  heavy  frost  early  in  the  autumn  destroyed  the  few 
fields  the  locusts  had  spared,  and  then  commenced  the  horrors 
of  a  miiversal  famine.  Men,  women  and  children,  wasted  and 
haggard,  wandered  over  the  fields  seeking  green  leaves  and 
roots,  and  dropped  dead  in  their  wanderings.  The  fields  and 
the  public  places  were  covered  with  putrefying  coi'pses  which 
the  living  had  not  strength  to  bury.  A  fetid  miasma,  ascend- 
ing from  this  cause,  added  })estilence  to  fanune,  and  woes  en- 
sued too  awful  to  be  described. 

Immediately  after  the  death  of  Mstislaf,  the  inhabitants  of 
Kief  assembled  and  invited  his  brother  Vladiniirovitcli  to  as- 


YEARS      OF      ^y  AR     AND      WOE.  11 

sunie  the  crown.  Tliis  prince  then  resided  at  Novgorod, 
which  city  he  at  once  left  for  the  capital.  He  proved  to  be  a 
feeble  prince,  and  the  lords  of  the  remote  principalities,  assum- 
ing independence,  bade  defiance  to  his  autliority.  There  was 
no  longer  any  central  power,  and  Russia,  instead  of  being  a 
miited  kingdom,  became  a  conglomeration  of  antagonistic 
states ;  every  feudal  lord  marshaling  his  serfs  in  warfare 
against  his  neiohbor.  In  the  midst  of  this  state  of  imiversal 
anarchy,  caused  by  the  weakness  of  a  virtuous  prince  who  had 
not  sufficient  energy  to  reign,  Vladimirovitch  died  in  1139. 

The  death  of  the  king  was  a  signal  for  a  general  outbreak 
— a  multitude  of  princes  rushing  to  seize  the  crown.  Viat- 
cheslaf,  prince  of  a  large  province  called  Pereiaslavle,  was  the 
first  to  reach  Kief  with  his  army.  The  inhabitants  of  the  city, 
to  avoid  the  horrors  of  war,  marched  in  procession  to  meet 
him,  and  conducted  him  in  triumph  to  the  throne.  Viatcheslaf 
had  hardly  grasped  the  scepter  and  stationed  his  army  within 
the  walls,  when  from  the  steeples  of  the  city  the  banners  of 
another  advancing  host  were  seen  gleaming  in  the  distance, 
and  soon  the  tramp  of  their  horsemen,  and  the  defiant  tones 
of  the  trumpet  were  heard,  as  another  and  far  more  mighty 
host  encircled  the  city.  This  new  array  was  led  by  Vsevolod, 
})rince  of  a  province  called  Vouychegorod.  Viatcheslaf,  con- 
vinced of  the  impossibility  of  resisting  sucli  a  power  as  Vse- 
volod had  brought  against  Kief,  immediately  consented  to 
retire,  and  to  surrender  the  throne  to  his  more  powerful  rival. 
Vsevolod  entered  the  city  in  triumph  and  established  himself 
(irmly  in  power. 

There  is  nothing  of  interest  to  be  recorded  during  his 
reign  of  seven  years,  save  that  Russia  was  swept  by  incessant 
billows  of  flame  and  blood.  The  princes  of  the  provinces  were 
ever  rising  against  his  authority.  Combinations  were  formed 
to  dethrone  the  king,  and  the  king  formed  combinations  to 
crush  his  enemies.  The  Hungarians,  the  Swedes,  the  Danes, 
the  Poles,  all  made  war  against  this  energetic   prince;   but 


78  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

with  an  iron  liaiid  he  smote  them  down.  Toil  and  care  soon 
exhausted  his  frame,  and  he  was  prostrate  on  his  dying-  bed. 
Bequeathing  his  throne  to  his  brother  Igor,  he  died,  leaving 
behind  him  the  reputation  of  having  been  one  of  the  most 
energetic  of  the  kings  of  this  blood  deluged  land. 

Igor  was  fully  conscious  of  the  perils  he  thus  inherited. 
lie  was  very  unpopular  with  the  inhabitants  of  Kief,  and  loud 
murmurs  greeted  his  accession  to  power,  A  conspiracy  was 
formed  among  the  most  influential  inhabitants  of  Kief,  and  a 
secret  embassage  was  sent  to  the  grand  prince,  Ysiaslaf,  a 
descendant  of  Monomaque,  inviting  him  to  come,  and  with 
their  aid,  take  possession  of  the  throne.  Tiie  prince  attended 
the  summons  witli  alacrity,  and  marched  with  a  poweifid  army 
to  Kief  Igor  was  vanquished  in  a  sanguinary  battle,  taken 
captive,  imprisoned  in  a  convent,  and  Ysiaslaf  became  the 
nominal  monarch  of  Russia. 

Sviatoslaf,  the  brother  of  Igor,  overwhelmed  with  anguish 
in  view  of  his  brother's  fall  and  captivity,  traversed  the  ex- 
panse of  Russia  to  enlist  the  sympathies  of  the  distant  princes, 
to  march  for  the  rescue  of  the  captive.  He  was  quite  success- 
ful. An  allied  army  was  soon  raised,  and,  under  determined 
leaders,  was  on  the  march  for  Kief.  The  king,  Ysiaslaf,  with 
his  troops,  advanced  to  meet  them.  In  the  meantime  Igoi", 
crushed  by  misfortune,  and  hopeless  of  deliverance,  sought 
solace  for  his  woes  in  religion.  "  For  a  long  time,"  said  he, 
"  I  have  desired  to  consecrate  my  heart  to  God.  Even  in  the 
height  of  prosperity  this  was  my  strongest  wish.  "What  can 
be  more  proper  for  me  now  that  I  am  at  the  very  gates  of 
the  tomb?"  For  eiglit  days  he  laid  hi  his  cell,  expecting 
every  moment  to  breathe  his  last,  lie  then,  reviving  a  little, 
received  the  tonsure  from  the  hands  of  the  bishop,  and  re- 
nouncing the  world,  and  all  its  cares  and  ambitions,  devoted 
himself  to  the  prayers  and  devotions  of  the  monk. 

The  king  pressed  Sviatoslaf  with  superior  forces,  con- 
quered him  in  several  battles,  and  drove  him,  a  fugitive,  into 


YEARS      OF     WAR      AND      A\'  O  E  .  79 

dense  forests,  and  into  distant  wilds.  Sviatoslaf,  like  his 
brother,  weary  of  the  storms  of  life,  also  sought  the  solace 
which  religion  aifords  to  the  weary  and  the  hearl-slrickeii. 
Pursued  by  his  relentless  foe,  he  came  to  a  little  village  called 
Moscow,  far  back  in  the  interior.  This  is  the  first  intimation 
history  gives  of  this  now  renowned  capital  of  the  most  exten- 
sive monarchy  u^^on  the  globe.  A  prince  named  Georges 
reigned  here,  over  the  extensive  province  then  called  Souz- 
dal,  who  received  the  fugitive  Avith  heartfelt  symi)alhy.  Aided 
by  Georges  and  several  of  the  surroundhig  princes,  another 
army  was  raised,  and  Sviatoslaf  commenced  a  triumphal 
march,  sweeping  all  opposition  before  him,  imtil  he  arrived  a 
conqueror  before  the  walls  of  Novgorod. 

The  people  of  Kief,  enraged  by  this  success  of  the  foe  of 
their  popular  king,  rose  in  a  general  tumult,  burst  into  a  con- 
vent where  Igor  was  found  at  his  devotions,  tied  a  rope  about 
bis  neck,  and  dragged  him,  a  mutilated  corpse,  through  the 
streets. 

The  king,  Ysiaslat'  called  for  a  levy  en  masse^  of  the  in- 
habitants of  Kief,  summoned  distant  feudal  barons  with  their 
armies  to  liis  banner,  and  marched  impetuously  to  meet  the 
conquering  foe.  Fierce  battles  ensued,  in  whicli  Sviatoslaf 
was  repeatedly  vanquished,  and  retreated  to  Souzdal  again  to 
appeal  to  Georges  for  aid.  Ysiaslaf  summoned  the  Novgo- 
rodians  before  him,  and  in  the  following  energetic  terms  ad- 
dressed them  : 

"My  brethren,"  said  he,  "  Georges,  the  prince  of  Souzdal, 
has  insidted  Xovgorod.  I  have  left  the  caj^ital  of  Russia  to 
defend  you.  Do  you  wisli  to  prosecute  the  war  ?  The 
sword  is  in  my  hands.  Do  you  desire  peace  ?  1  will  0})en 
negotiations." 

"  War,  war,"  the  multitude  shouted.  "  You  are  our 
monarch,  and  we  will  ail  follow  you,  from  the  youngest  to 
the  oldest." 

A  vast  army  was  immediately  assembled  on  the  shores  of 


80  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

the  lake  of  Ilmen,  near  the  city  of  Novgorod,  which  com- 
menced its  march  of  three  hundred  miles,  to  the  remote 
reahns  of  Houzdal.  Georges  was  unprepared  to  meet  them. 
He  fled,  surrendering  his  country  to  be  ravaged  by  the  foe. 
His  cities  and  villages  were  burned,  and  seven  tliousand  of  his 
subjects  were  carried  captive  to  Kief.  But  Georges  was  not  a 
man  to  bear  such  a  calamity  meekly.  He  speedily  succeeded 
in  forming  an  alliance  with  the  barbarian  nations  around  him, 
and  burning  with  rage,  followed  the  army  of  the  I'etiring 
foe.  He  overtook  them  near  the  city  of  Periaslavle.  It 
was  the  evening  of  the  23d  of  August.  The  unclouded 
sun  w^as  just  sinking  at  the  close  of  a  sultry  day,  and 
tlie  vesper  chants  were  floating  through  the  temples  of  the 
city.  The  storm  of  war  burst  as  suddenly  as  the  thunder 
peals  of  an  autumnal  tempest.  The  result  was  most  awful 
and  fatal  to  the  king.  His  troops  were  dispersed  and  cut  to 
pieces.  Ysiaslaf  himself  with  difficulty  escaped  and  reached 
the  ramparts  of  Kief  The  terrified  inhabitants  entreated 
him  not  to  remain,  as  liis  presence  would  only  expose  the  city 
to  the  horror  of  being  taken  by  storm. 

"  Our  fathers,  our  brothers,  our  sons,"  they  said,  "  are 
dead  upon  the  field  of  battle,  or  are  in  chains.  We  have  no 
arms.  Generous  prince,  do  not  expose  the  capital  of  Russia 
to  pillage.  Flee  for  a  time  to  your  remote  princijialities, 
there  to  gather  a  now  army.  You  know  that  we  will  never 
i-est  contented  under  the  government  of  Georges.  We  will 
rise  in  revolt  against  him,  as  soon  as  we  shall  see  your  stand- 
ards approaching." 

Ysiaslaf  fled,  first  to  Smolensk,  some  three  hundred 
miles  distant,  and  thence  traversed  his  principalities  seeking 
aid.  Georges  entered  Kief  in  triumph.  Calling  his  warriors 
around  him,  he  assigned  to  them  the  provinces  which  he  had 
wrested  from  the  feudal  lords  of  the  king. 

Hungary,  Bohemia  and  Poland  then  consisted  of  barbaric 
peoples  just  emerging  into  national  existence.     Tlie  King  of 


YEARS      UK      W  A  K     A  X  D      ^\'  O  K  .  81 

Hungary  bad  man-ied  Eiiphrosiiie,  the  youngest  ssisiev  of 
Ysiaslaf.  He  immediately  sent  to  his  brother-in-law  ten 
thousand  cavaliers.  The  Kings  of  Bohemia  and  of  Poland 
also  entered  into  an  alliance  with  the  exiled  prince,  and  in 
person  led  the  armies  which  they  contributed  to  his  aid,  A 
war  of  desperation  ensued.  It  was  as  a  conflict  between  the 
tiger  and  the  lion. 

Tlie  annals  of  those  dark  days  contained  but  a  weary 
recital  of  deeds  of  violence,  blood  and  woe,  which  tor  ten 
years  desolated  the  land.  All  Russia  Avas  roused.  Every 
feudal  lord  -vvas  leading  his  vassals  to  the  held.  There  were 
combinations  and  counter-combinations  innumerable.  Cities 
were  taken  and  retaken  ;  to-day,  the  banners  of  Ysiaslaf  float 
upon  the  battlements  of  Kief;  to-morrow,  those  banners  are 
hewn  down  and  the  standards  of  Georges  are  unfurled  to  the 
breeze.  Xow,  we  see  Ysiaslaf  a  fugitive,  hopeless,  in  despair. 
Again,  the  rolling  wheel  of  fortune  raises  him  from  his  de- 
pression, and,  with  the  strides  of  a  conqueror,  he  pursues  his 
foe,  ill  his  turn  vanquished  and  woe-stricken.     But 

"  The  pomp  of  herakliy,  the  pride  of  power, 
Aud  ;ill  that  beauty,  all  that  wealth  e'er  gave, 
Alike  await  the  inevitable  hour ; 

The  paths  of  glory  lead  but  to  the  grave." 

Death,  which  Ysiaslaf  had  braved  in  a  hundred  battles,  ap- 
proached him  by  the  slow  but  resistless  march  of  disease.  For 
a  few  days  the  monarch  tossed  in  fevered  restlessness  on  his 
bed  at  Kief,  and  then,  from  his  life  of  incesf  ant  storms  on 
earth,  his  spirit  ascended  to  the  God  who  gave  it.  Georges 
was,  at  tiiat  time,  in  the  lowest  state  of  luuniliation.  His 
armies  had  all  ])erisl)ed,  and  he  was  wanderiug  'i  exile,  seek- 
ing new  forces  with  which  to  renew  the  strife. 

Rostislat"  grand  prince  of  Novgorod,  suc(  eded  to  the 
throne.  ]iut  Georges,  animated  by  the  death  of  Ysiaslaf"  soon 
found  enthusiastic  ndvcnturcrs   rallvif.g   around  his  banners. 

\* 


82  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

He  marched  vigorously  to  Kief,  drove  Rostislaf  from  the  cap- 
ital and  seized  the  scepter.  But  there  was  no  lull  in  the  tem- 
pest of  human  ambition.  Georges  had  attained  the  throne 
by  the  energies  of  his  sword,  and,  acting  ujDon  the  principle 
that  "  to  the  victors  belong  tlie  spoils,"  he  had  driven  from 
their  castles  all  the  lords  who  had  been  supporters  of  the  past 
administration.  He  had  conferred  their  mansions  and  their 
territoiies  upon  his  followers.  Human  nature  has  not  mate- 
rially changed.  Those  in  office  were  fighting  to  retain  their 
honors  and  emoluments.  Those  out  of  office  were  struggling 
to  attain  the  posts  which  brought  wealth  and  renown.  The 
progress  of  civilization  has,  in  our  country,  transferred  this 
fierce  battle  from  the  field  to  the  ballot-box.  It  is,  indeed,  a 
glorious  change.  The  battle  can  be  fought  thus  just  as  eflec- 
tually,  and  infinitely  moi'e  humanely.  It  has  required  the  mis- 
ery of  nearly  six  thousand  years  to  teach,  even  a  few  millions 
of  mankind,  that  the  ballot-box  is  a  better  instrument  for  po- 
litical conflicts  than  the  cartridge-box. 

Armies  were  gathering  in  all  directions  to  march  upon 
Georges.  He  was  now  an  old  man,  weary  of  war,  and  endeav- 
ored to  bribe  his  foes  to  jjeace.  He  was,  however,  unsuccess- 
ful, and  found  it  to  be  necessary  again  to  lead  his  armies  into 
the  field.  It  was  tlie  20tli  of  March,  1157,  when  Georges, 
entering  Kief  in  triumph,  ascended  the  throne.  On  the  1st 
of  May  he  dined  with  some  of  his  lords.  Immediately  after 
dinner  he  was  taken  sick,  and,  after  languishhig  a  fortnight 
in  ever-increasing  debility,  on  the  15tli  he  died. 

The  inhabitants  of  Kief,  regarding  him  as  an  usurper, 
rejoiced  at  liis  death,  and  immediately  sent  an  embassage  to 
Davidovitch,  prince  of  Tchernigof,  a  ])rovince  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  miles  north  of  Kief,  inviting  him  to  hasten  to 
the  capital  and  seize  the  scepter  of  Russia. 

Kief,  and  all  occidental  Russia,  thus  ravaged  by  intermin- 
able wars,  desolated  by  famine  and  by  flame,  was  I'apidly  on 
the  decline,  and  was  fast  lapsing  into  barbarism.    Davidovitch 


Y  E  A  E  S      OF      WAR     AND     WOE.  83 

liad  hardly  ascended  tlie  throne  ere  he  was  driven  from  it  by 
Rostislaf,  whom  Georges  had  dethroned.  But  the  remote 
province  of  Souzdal,  of  which  Moscow  was  the  capital,  situated 
some  seven  hundred  miles  north-east  of  Kief,  was  now  emerg- 
ing from  barbaric  darkness  into  wealth  and  civilization.  The 
missionaries  of  Christ  had  penetrated  those  remote  realms. 
Churches  were  I'eared,  the  gospel  was  preached,  peace  reigned, 
industry  was  encouraged,  and,  under  their  influence,  Moscow 
was  attaining  that  supremacy  which  subsequently  made  it  the 
heart  of  the  Russian  empire. 

Tile  inhabitants  of  Kief  received  Rostislaf  with  demonstra- 
tions of  joy,  as  they  received  every  prince  whom  the  fortunes 
of  war  imposed  upon  them,  hoping  that  each  one  would  se- 
cure for  their  unhappy  city  the  blessings  of  tranquillity.  Da- 
vidovitch  tied  to  Moldavia.  There  was  then  in  Moldavia,  be- 
tween the  rivers  Pruth  and  Sereth,  a  piratic  city  called  Ber- 
lad.  It  was  the  resort  of  vagabonds  of  all  nations  and  creeds, 
wlio  pillaged  the  siiores  of  the  Black  Sea  and  plundered  the 
boats  ascending  and  descending  the  Danube  and  the  Dnieper. 
These  brigands,  enriched  by  plunder  and  strengthened  by  ac- 
cessions of  desperadoes  from  every  nation  and  every  tribe,  had 
bidden  defiance  both  to  the  grand  princes  of  Russia  and  the 
powers  of  the  empire. 

Eagerly  these  robber  hordes  engaged  as  auxiliaries  of 
Davidovitch.  In  a  tumultuous  band  they  commenced  their 
march  to  Kief.  They  were,  however,  repulsed  by  the  ener- 
getic Rostislaf,  and  Davidovitch,  with  difficulty  escaping  from 
the  sanguinary  field,  Hed  to  Moscow  and  implored  the  aid  of 
its  independent  prince,  Georgievitch,  The  prince  listened 
with  interest  to  his  representations,  and,  fbllowhig  the  exam- 
ple of  the  more  illustrious  nations  of  modern  times,  thought 
it  a  good  opportunity  to  enlarge  his  territories. 

The  city  of  Novgorod,  capital  of  the  extensive  and  power- 
ful province  of  the  same  name,  was  some  seven  hundred  miles 
north  of  Kief     It  was  not  more  than  half  that  distance  west 


84  THE      E  MP  IRK      OP      RUSSIA. 

of  Moscow.  The  inhabitants  were  weary  of  anarchy  and 
blood,  and  anxious  to  throw  themselves  into  the  arms  of  any 
prince  who  could  secure  for  tliem  tranquillity.  The  fruit  was 
ripe  and  was  ready  to  drop  into  the  hands  of  Georgievitch. 
He  sent  word  to  the  Novgorodians  that  he  had  decided  to 
take  their  country  under  his  protection — that  he  had  no  wish 
for  war,  but  that  if  they  manifested  any  resistance,  he  should 
subdue  them  by  force  of  arms.  Tiie  Novgorodians  I'eceived 
the  message  with  delight,  rose  in  insurrection,  and  seized 
their  prince,  who  was  the  oldest  son  of  Rostislaf,  imprisoned 
him,  Ills  wife  and  cliildren,  in  a  convent,  and  with  tumultu- 
ous joy  received  as  their  prince  the  nephew  of  Georgievitch. 
Rostislaf  was  so  powerless  that  he  made  no  attempt  to  avenge 
this  insult.  Davidovitch  made  one  more  desperate  eftbrt  to 
obtain  the  throne.  But  he  fell  upon  the  tield  of  battle,  his 
head  beino-  cleft  with  a  saber  stroke. 


CHAPTER    V. 

MSTISLAF    AND    ANDEE. 
From  11G7  to  1212. 

Centralization  of  Power  at  Kief. — Death  of  Rostislaf. — His  Keligious  Chaeao- 
ter. — mstislaf  ysiaslavltcii  ascendstiie  tlikone. — proclamation  of  the  king. 
— Its  Kffect. — Plans  of  Andre  — Scenes  at  Kief. — Ueturn  and  Death  of  Mstis- 
LAF. —  AVar  in  Novgorod. — Peace  Concluoeu  Throughout  IJussia. — Insult  of 
Andre  and  its  Consequences. — Greatness  of  Soul  Displayed  by  Andre. — As- 
sassination OF  Andke. — Eenewal  of  Anarchy. — Emigration  from  Novgorod. — 
Keign  of  Michel. — Vsevolou  III. — Evangelization  of  Bulgaria. — Death  of 
VsEVOLOD  III. — IIis  Queen  Maria. 

THE  prince  of  Souzdul  watched  the  progress  of  events  in 
occidental  Russia  with  great  interest.  He  saw  clearly 
that  war  was  impoverishing  and  ruining  tlie  country,  and  this 
led  him  to  adopt  the  most  wis(!  and  vigorous  measures  to  se- 
cure peace  within  his  own  flourishing  territoiies.  He  adopted 
the  system  of  centralized  power,  keeping  the  reins  of  govern- 
ment firmly  in  his  own  hands,  and  appointing  governoi'S  over 
remote  provinces,  who  were  merely  the  executors  of  his  will, 
and  who  were  responsil)le  to  him  for  all  their  acts.  At  Kief 
the  system  of  independent  apanages  prevailed.  The  lord 
placed  at  the  head  of  a  principality  was  an  unlimited  despot, 
accountable  to  no  one  but  God  for  his  administration.  His 
fealty  to  the  king  consisted  merely  in  an  understanding  that 
he  was  to  follow  the  banner  of  the  sovereign  in  case  of  war. 
But  in  fact,  these  feudal  lords  were  more  frecpiently  Ibund 
claiming  entii'c  independence,  and  struggling  against  their 
nominal  sovereign  to  wrest  from  his  hands  the  scepter, 

Kostislaf  was  now  f;ir  advanced  in  years.     Conscious  that 
death  could  not  Ix;  liir   distant,  he  took  a   iourney,  thougli  in 


86  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

very  feeble  health,  to  some  of  the  adjacent  provinces,  hoping 
to  induce  them  to  receive  his  son  as  his  successor.  On  this 
journey  he  died  at  Smolensk,  the  14th  of  March,  1167.  Re- 
ligious thoughts  had  in  his  latter  years  greatly  engrossed  his 
attention.  He  breathed  his  last,  praying  with  a  trembling- 
voice,  and  fixing  his  eyes  devoutly  on  an  image  of  the  Saviour 
which  he  held  devoutly  in  his  hand.  He  exhibited  many 
Christian  virtues,  and  for  many  years  manifested  much  solici- 
tude that  he  might  be  prepared  to  meet  God  in  judgment. 
The  earnest  remonstrances,  alone,  of  his  spiritual  advisers, 
dissuaded  him  from  abdicating  the  throne,  and  adopting  the 
austerities  of  a  monastic  life.  He  was  not  a  man  of  com- 
manding character,  but  it  is  pleasant  to  believe  that  he  was, 
though  groping  in  much  darkness,  a  sincere  disciple  of  the 
Saviour,  and  that  he  passed  from  earth  to  join  the  spirits  of 
the  just  made  perfect  in  Heaven. 

Mstislaf  Ysiaslavitch,  a  nephew  of  the  deceased  king,  as- 
cended the  throne.  He  had  however  uncles,  nephews  and 
brothers,  who  were  quite  disposed  to  dispute  with  him  the 
possession  of  power,  and  soon  civil  war  was  raging  all  over 
the  kingdom  with  renewed  virulence.  Several  years  of  de- 
struction and  misery  thus'  jDassed  away,  dui-ing  which  thou- 
sands of  the  helpless  people  perished  in  their  blood,  to  decide 
questions  of  not  the  slightest  moment  to  them.  The  doom  of 
the  peasants  was  alike  poverty  and  toil,  whether  one  lord  or  an- 
other lord  occupied  the  castle  which  overshadowed  their  huts. 

The  Dnieper  was  then  the  only  channel  through  which 
connnerce  could  be  conducted  between  Russia  and  the  Greek 
empire.  Barbaiic  nations  inhabited  tlie  shores  of  this  stream, 
and  they  had  long  been  held  in  check  by  the  Russian  armies. 
Rut  now  the  kingdom  had  become  so  enfeebled  by  war  and 
anarchy,  all  the  energies  of  the  Russian  princes  being  ex- 
iiaustcd  in  civil  strife,  that  the  barbarians  plundered  with  im- 
punity the  boats  ascending  and  descending  the  stream,  and 
eventually  rendered  the  navigation  so  perilous,  that  connner- 


MSTISLAF      AND      AXDJRK,  8/ 

cial  communication  with  the  empire  was  at  an  end.  The  Rus- 
sian princes  thus  debarred  from  the  necessaries  and  luxuries 
which  they  had  been  accustomed  to  receive  from  the  more 
highly  civilized  and  polished  Greeks,  were  impelled  to  mea- 
sures of  union  for  mutual  protection.  Tlie  king,  in  this  emer- 
gence, issued  a  proclamation  which  met  with  a  general  re- 
sponse. 

"Russia,  our  beloved  country,"  exclaimed  Mstislaf,  "groans 
beneath  the  stripes  which  the  barbarians  are  laying  upon  her, 
and  which  we  are  unable  to  avenge.  Tiiey  have  taken  solemn 
oaths  of  tViendshij),  they  have  received  our  pi'esents,  and  now, 
regardless  of  tlie  faith  of  treaties,  they  capture  our  Christian 
subjects  and  drag  them  as  slaves  into  their  desert  wilds. 
There  is  no  longer  any  salety  for  our  merchant  boats  navi- 
gating the  Dnieper.  The  barbarians  have  taken  possession  of 
that  only  route  through  which  we  can  pass  into  Greece.  It  is 
time  for  us  to  resort  to  new  measures  of  energy.  My  friends 
and  my  brothers,  let  us  terminate  our  unnatural  war  ;  let  us 
look  to  God  for  help,  and,  drawing  the  sword  of  vengeance, 
let  us  fall  in  united  strength  upon  our  savage  foes.  It  is  glo- 
rious to  ascend  to  Heaven  from  the  field  of  honor,  thus  to  fol- 
low in  the  footsteps  of  our  father." 

This  spirited  appeal  was  effective.  The  princes  rallied  each 
at  the  head  of  a  numerous  band  of  vassals,  and  thus  a  large 
army  was  soon  congregated.  The  desire  to  punish  the  insult- 
ing barbarians  inspired  universal  enthusiasm.  The  masses  of 
the  people  were  aroused  to  avenge  their  friends  who  had  been 
carried  into  captivity.  The  priests,  with  prayers  and  anthems, 
blessed  the  banners  of  the  faithful,  and,  on  the  'Jd  of  March, 
1108,  the  army,  elate  with  hope  and  nerved  with  vengeance, 
commenced  their  descent  of  the  river.  The  barbarians,  terri- 
iied  by  the  storm  wliicii  they  had  raised,  and  ti-om  whose  I'ury 
they  could  attain  no  shelter,  tied  so  i)reci[*itately  that  they 
lelt  their  wives  and  their  children  behind  them.  The  Rus- 
sians, abandoning  the  incumbrance  of  their  baggage,  pursued 


88  THE     EMPIRE     OF     RUSSIA. 

tliera  in  tlie  hottest  haste.  Over  tlie  hills,  and  through  the 
valleys,  and  across  the  streams  jDuisuers  and  pursued  rushed 
on,  until,  at  last,  the  fugitives  were  overtaken  upon  the  banks 
of  a  deep  and  rapid  stream,  which  they  were  unable  to  cross. 
Mercilessly  they  were  luassacred,  many  Russian  prisoners 
were  i-escued,  and  booty  to  an  immense  amount  was  taken, 
for  these  river  pirates  were  rich,  having  for  years  been  plun- 
dering the  commerce  of  Greece  and  Russia.  According  to 
the  custom  of  those  days  the  booty  was  divided  between  the 
princes  and  the  soldiers — each  man  receiving  according  to 
his  rank. 

As  the  army  returned  in  triumph  to  the  Dniester,  to  their 
boundless  satisfaction  they  saw  tlie  pennants  of  a  merchant 
fleet  ascending  the  river  from  Constantbiople,  laden  with  the 
riches  of  the  empire.  The  army  crowded  the  shores  and 
greeted  the  barges  with  all  the  demonstrations  of  exultation 
and  joy. 

The  punishment  of  the  barbarians  being  thus  effectually 
accomplished,  the  princes  immediately  commenced  anew  their 
strife.  All  their  old  feuds  were  revived.  Every  lord  wished 
to  increase  his  own  power  and  to  diminish  that  of  his  natural 
rival.  Andre,  of  Souzdal,  to  whom  we  have  before  referred, 
whose  capital  was  the  little  village  of  Moscow  far  away  in 
the  interior,  deemed  the  moment  favorable  for  dethroning 
Mstislaf  and  extending  the  area  of  such  freedom  as  his  sub- 
jects enjoyed  over  the  realms  of  Novgorod  and  Kief.  He 
succeeded  in  uniting  eleven  princes  with  him  in  his  enterprise. 
His  measures  were  adopted  with  great  secresy.  Assembling 
his  armies,  curtained  by  leagues  of  forests,  he,  unobserved, 
commenced  his  march  toward  the  Dnieper.  The  banners  of 
the  numerous  army  were  already  visible  from  the  steeples  of 
Kief  before  the  sovereign  was  apprised  of  his  danger.  For 
two  days  the  storms  of  war  beat  against  the  walls  and  roared 
around  the  battlements  of  the  city,  when  the  besiegers,  burst- 
ing over  the  walls,  swept  the  streets  in  horrid  carnage. 


MSTISLAF     AND      AXDRE.  89 

This  mother  of  the  Russian  cities  had  often  been  besieged 
and  often  ca})ituh>ted,  but  never  before  had  it  been  taken  by 
storm,  and  never  before,  and  never  since,  have  the  honors  of 
war  been  more  sternly  exhibited.  For  three  days  and  three 
nigiits  the  city  and  its  inhabitants  were  surrendered  to  the 
brutal  soldiery.  The  imagination  shrinks  from  contemplating 
the  awful  scene.  The  world  of  woe  may  be  challenged  to  ex- 
hibit any  thing  worse.  Fearful,  indeed,  must  be  the  corrup- 
tion when  man  can  be  capable  of  such  inhumanity  to  his  fel- 
low man.     War  unchains  the  tiger  and  shows  his  nature. 

Mstislaf,  the  sovereign,  in  the  midst  of  the  confusion,  tlie 
uproar  and  the  blood,  succeeded  almost  as  by  miracle  in  es- 
caping from  the  wretched  city,  basely,  however,  abandoning 
his  wife  and  his  children  to  the  enemy.  Thus  fell  Kief.  For 
some  centuries  it  had  been  the  capital  of  Russia.  It  was  such 
no  more.  The  victorious  Andre,  of  Moscow,  was  now,  by  the 
energies  of  his  sword,  sovereign  of  the  empire.  Kief  became 
but  a  provincial  and  a  tributary  city,  which  the  sovereign 
placed  under  the  governorship  of  his  brother  Gleb. 

Nearly  all  the  provinces  of  known  Russia  were  now  more 
or  less  tributary  to  Andre.  Three  princes  only  preserved 
their  independence.  As  the  army  of  Andre  retired,  Gleb 
was  left  in  possession  of  the  throne  of  Kief.  In  those  days 
there  were  always  many  petty  princes,  ready  to  embark  with 
their  followers  in  any  enterprise  which  promised  either  glory 
or  booty.  Mstislaf^  the  fugitive  sovereign,  soon  gathered 
around  him  semi-savage  bands,  entered  tJie  province  of  Kief, 
jjlundering  and  buiiiing  the  homes  of  his  former  subjects. 
As  he  approached  Kief,  Gleb,  unprepared  lor  eflicient  resist- 
ance, was  compelled  to  seek  safety  in  flight.  The  inhabitants 
of  the  city,  to  escape  the  hon-ors  of  another  siege  and  sack, 
threw  open  their  gates,  and  crowded  out  to  meet  their  former 
monarch  as  a  returning  friend,  Mstislaf  entered  the  city  in 
triunn)h  and  quietly  icseated  himself  ujton  the  throne.  lie 
however  ascended  it  but  to  die.    A  sudden  disease  seized  him, 


90  THE     E  M  P  I  R  K      OF      RUSSIA. 

and  the  sonixs  of  tiiiimph  which  greeted  his  eutvanc^e,  died 
away  in  lequietns  and  wailings,  as  he  was  borne  to  the  silent 
tomb.  Witli  dying  breath  he  surrendered  his  throne  to  his 
younger  brother  Yaroslaf. 

Andre,  at  Moscow,  had  other  formidable  engagements  oii 
hand,  wliicli  prevented  his  interposition  in  the  affairs  of  Kief. 
The  Xo\gorodians  had  bidden  defiance  to  his  authority,  and 
their  subjugation  was  essential,  before  any  troops  could  be 
spared  to  chastise  the  heir  of  Mstislaf.  The  Novgorodian 
army  had  even  penetrated  the  realms  of  Andre,  and  wei'e 
exacting  tribute  from  his  jDrovinces.  The  grand  jmnce,  Andre 
himself,  was  far  advanced  in  years,  opposed  to  war,  and  had 
probably  been  pushed  on  in  his  enterprises  by  the  ambition 
of  his  son,  who  was  also  named  Mstislaf  This  young  |)rince 
was  impetuous  and  fiery,  greedy  for  military  glory,  and  rest- 
less in  his  graspings  for  power.  The  iSTovgorodians  were  also 
warlike  and  indomitable.  The  conflict  between  two  such 
powers  arrested  the  attention  of  all  Russia,  Mstislaf  made 
the  most  extensive  preparations  for  the  attack  upon  the  Nov- 
gorodians,  and  they,  in  their  turn,  were  equally  energetic  in 
preparations  for  the  defense.  The  army  marched  from  Mos- 
cow, and  following  the  valley  of  the  Masta,  entered  the 
spacious  province  of  Novgorod.  They  entered  the  region, 
not  like  wolves,  not  like  men,  but  like  demons.  The  torch 
was  applied  to  every  hut,  to  every  village,  to  every  town. 
They  amused  themselves  with  tossing  men,  women  and 
children  upon  their,  camp-fires,  glowing  like  furnaces.  The 
sword  and  the  spear  were  too  merciful  instiuments  of  death. 
The  flames  of  the  burning  towns  blazed  along  the  horizon 
night  after  night,  and  the  cry  of  the  victims  roused  the 
Novgorodians  to  the  intensest  thirst  for  vengeance. 

With  the  sweep  of  utter  desolation,  Mstislaf  approached 
the  city,  and  when  his  army  stood  bel'ore  the  walls,  there  was 
behind  him  a  path,  leagues  in  width,  and  two  hundred  miles 
ill   length,  covered  with   ruins,  ashes  and   the  bodies  of  the 


MSTISLAF      AND      ANDRfi.  91 

dead.  It  was  the  25tli  of  February,  1170.  The  city  was 
immediately  summoned  to  surrender.  The  Novgorodians 
appalled  by  the  fate  of  Kief,  and  by  the  horrors  which  had 
accompanied  the  march  of  Mstislaf,  took  a  solemn  oath  that 
they  would  struggle  to  the  last  drop  of  blood  in  defense  of 
their  liberties.  The  clergy  in  procession,  beai'ing  the  image 
of  the  Virgin  in  their  arms,  traversed  the  fortilications  of  tlie 
city,  and  with  j^rayers,  hymns  and  the  most  imposing  Chris- 
tian rites,  inspired  the  soldiers  with  religious  enthusiasm. 
The  Novgorodians  threw  themselves  upon  their  knees,  and 
in  simultaneous  prayer  cried  out,  with  the  blending  of  ten 
thousand  voices,  "  O  God !  come  and  help  us,  come  and  help 
us."  Thus  roused  to  frenzy,  with  tlie  clergy  chanting  liymns 
of  battle  and  pleading  with  Heaven  for  success,  with  the 
image  of  the  Virgin  contemplating  their  deeds,  the  soldiers 
rushed  from  behind  their  ramparts  upon  the  foe.  Death  was 
no  longer  dreaded.  The  only  thought  of  every  man  was  to 
sell  his  life  as  dearly  as  possible. 

Such  an  onset  of  maniacal  energy  no  mortal  force  could 
stand.  The  soldiers  of  Mstislaf  fell  as  the  waving  grahi 
bows  before  the  tornado.  Their  defeat  was  utter  and  awful. 
Mercy  was  not  thought  of.  Sword  and  javelin  cried  only  for 
blood,  blood.  The  wretched  Mstislaf  in  dismay  fled,  leaving 
two  thirds  of  his  army  in  gory  death  ;  and,  in  his  flight,  he 
met  that  chastisement  which  his  cruelties  merited.  He  had 
to  traverse  a  ])ath  two  hundred  miles  in  length,  along  which 
not  one  lieM  of  grain  had  been  left  undestroyed  ;  where  every 
dwelling  was  in  ashes,  and  no  animal  life  whatever  had  es- 
caped his  ravages.  Starvation  was  his  doom.  Every  rod  of 
the  way  his  emaciated  soldiers  dropped  dead  in  their  steps. 
Famine  also  with  all  its  woes  reigned  in  Novgorod.  Under 
tliese  circumstances,  the  two  parties  consented  to  peace,  the 
Novgorodians  retaining  their  independence,  but  accepting  a 
brother  of  the  giand  ])rince  Andre  to  succeed  their  own 
prince,  who  was  then  at  the  point  of  death. 


92  THE     E]\rPTRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

Andre,  having  thus  terminated  the  strife  witli  Novgorod 
by  the  peace  which  lie  loved,  turned  his  attention  to  Kief, 
and  with  characteristic  humanity,  gratified  the  wishes  of  the 
inhabitants  by  allowing  them  to  accept  Roman,  prince  of 
Smolensk,  as  their  chieftain.  Roman  entered  the  city,  greeted 
by  the  most  flattering  testimonials  of  the  joy  of  the  inhab- 
itants, while  they  united  with  him  in  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
Andre  as  the  sovereign  of  Russia.  Andre,  who  was  ever  dis- 
posed to  establish  his  sovereign  power,  not  by  armies  but  by 
equity  and  moderation,  and  who  seems  truly  to  have  felt  that 
the  welfare  of  Russia  required  that  all  its  provinces  should  be 
united  under  common  laws  and  a  common  sovereign,  turned 
his  attention  again  to  Novgorod,  hoping  to  persuade  its 
inhabitants  to  relinquish  their  independence  and  ally  them- 
selves with  the  general  empire, 

Rurik,  the  brother  of  Andre,  who  had  been  appointed 
prince  of  Novgorod,  i)roved  unpopular,  and  was  driven  from 
his  command.  Andre,  instead  of  endeavoring  to  force  him 
back  upon  them  by  the  energies  of  his  armies,  with  a  wise 
s])irit  of  conciliation  acquiesced  in  tlieir  movement,  and  sent 
to  them  his  young  son,  George,  as  a  prince,  offering  to  assist 
them  with  his  counsel  and  to  aid  them  with  his  military  force 
whenever  they  should  desire  it.  Thus  internal  peace  was 
established  throughout  the  empire.  By  gradual  advances, 
and  with  great  sagacity,  Andie,  from  his  liumble  jjalace  in 
Moscow,  extended  his  influence  over  the  remote  provinces, 
and  established  his  power. 

Tile  jjiinces  of  Kief  and  its  adjacent  provinces  became 
jealous  of  the  encroachments  of  Andre,  and  hostile  feelings 
were  excited.  The  king  at  length  sent  an  embassador  to 
them  with  very  imperious  commands.  The  embassador  was 
seized  at  Kiel^  his  hair  and  beard  shaven,  and  was  then  sent 
back  to  Moscow  with  the  defiant  message, 

"  Until  now  we  have  wished  to  respect  you  as  a  father; 
but  since  you  do  not  blush  to  treat  us  as  vassals  and  as  peas- 


MSTISLAF     AND      ANUUfi.  93 

ants — since  you  have  forgotten  that  you  speak  to  princes,  we 
spurn  your  menaces.  Execute  them.  We  appeal  to  the  judg- 
ment of  God." 

This  grievous  insult  of  word  and  deed  roused  the  indigna- 
tion of  the  aged  monarch  as  it  had  never  been  roused  before. 
He  assembled  an  army  of  fifty  thousand  men,  who  were  ren- 
dezvoused at  Novgorod,  and  placed  under  the  command  of 
the  king's  son,  Georges.  Another  army,  nearly  equal  in  num- 
ber, was  asseinbled  at  Tchernigof,  collected  from  the  prin- 
cipalities of  Polotsk,  Tourof,  Grodno,  Pinsk  and  Smolensk. 
The  bands  of  this  army  were  under  the  several  princes  of  the 
provinces.  Sviatoslaf,  grandson  of  the  renowned  Oleg,  was 
entrusted  with  the  supreme  command.  Tliese  two  mnjestic 
forces  were  soon  combined  upon  the  banks  of  the  Dnieper. 
All  resistance  fled  before  them,  and  witli  strides  of  triumph 
they  marched  down  the  valley  to  Kief  The  princes  who  had 
aroused  this  storm  of  war  fled  to  Vouoychegorod,  an  impor- 
tant fortress  further  down  the  river,  where  they  strongly 
entrenched  themselves,  and  sternly  awaited  the  advance  of 
the  foe.  The  royalist  forces,  having  taken  jiossession  of  Kief, 
pursued  the  fugitives.  The  marcli  of  armies  so  vast,  conduct- 
ing war  upon  so  grand  a  scale,  excited  the  astonishment  of  all 
the  inhabitants  upon  the  river's  banks.  A  little  fortress,  de- 
fended by  a  mere  handful  of  men,  appeared  to  them  an  object 
unwortliy  of  an  army  sufliciently  powerful  to  crush  an  empire. 

But  in  the  fortress  there  was  perfect  unity,  and  its  com- 
mander had  tlie  soul  of  a  lion.  In  the  camp  of  the  besiegers 
there  was  neither  harmony  nor  zeal.  Many  of  the  princes 
were  inimical  to  the  king,  and  were  jealous  of  his  growing 
I>ower.  (Jtiiers  were  envious  of  Sviatoslaf,  the  comnmnder- 
in-cliiel",  and  were  willing  to  sacrifice  their  own  fame  that  he 
might  be  humbled.  Not  a  few  even  were  in  sympathy  with 
tlu;  insurgents,  and  were  almost  disposed  to  unite  undc'r  tlieir 
banners. 

It   was   the   8th   of  September,    117:5,    when   the   royalist 


94  T  H  E     E  M  P  I  R  E      O  F      R  U  S  S  I  A  . 

forces  encii'cltd  the  fortress.  Gunpowder  was  then  unknown, 
and  contendhig  armies  could  only  meet  hand  to  hand.  For 
two  months  the  siege  was  continued,  with  bloody  conflicts 
every  day.  Wintry  winds  swept  the  plains,  and  storms  of 
snow  Avhitened  the  fields,  when,  from  the  battlements  of  the 
fortress,  the  besieged  saw  the  banners  of  another  army  ap- 
proaching the  arena.  They  knew  not  whether  the  distant 
battalions  were  friends  or  foes  ;  but  it  was  certain  that  their 
approach  would  decide  the  strife,  for  each  party  was  so  ex- 
hausted as  to  be  unable  to  resist  any  new  assailants.  Soon  the 
signals  of  war  proclaimed  that  an  army  was  approaching  fur 
the  rescue  of  the  fortress.  Shouts  of  exultation  rose  from  the 
garrison,  AA^hich  fell  like  the  knell  of  death  upon  the  ears  of 
the  besiegers,  freezing  on  the  plains.  The  alarm  which  spi'cad 
through  the  camp  was  instantaneous  and  terrible.  The  dark- 
ness of  a  November  night  soon  settled  do\\"n  over  city  and 
plain.  With  the  first  rays  of  the  morning  the  garrison  were 
upon  the  walls,  when,  to  their  surprise,  they  saw  the  whole 
vast  army  in  rapid  and  disordered  flight.  The  plains  around 
the  fortix'ss  were  utterly  deserted  and  covered  with  the  wrecks 
of  war.  The  garrison  immediately  rushed  from  behind  their 
ramparts  united  with  their  approaching  friends  and  pursued 
the  fugitives. 

Tiie  royalists,  in  their  dismay,  attempted  to  cross  the  river 
on  the  fragile  ice.  It  broke  beneath  the  enormous  weight, 
and  thousands  perished  in  the  cold  stream.  The  remainder 
of  this  great  host  were  almost  to  a  man  either  slain  or  tak(  n 
captive.  Their  whole  camp  and  baggage  fell  into  the  hands 
of  the  conquerors.  Tiiis  wonderful  victory,  achieved  b}'  the 
energies  of  Mstislaf,  has  given  him  a  name  in  Russian  annals 
as  one  of  the  most  renowned  and  brave  of  the  princes  of  the 
empire. 

Geoi'ge,  prince  of  Novgorod,  son  of  Andre,  escaped  from 
the  carnage  of  that  ensanguined  field,  and  overwhehiied  with 
shame,  returned  to  his  father  in  Moscow.     The  king,  in  this 


M  S  T  I  S  L  A  !'•      AND      A  X  D  K  6  .  95 

extremity,  developed  true  greatness  of  soul.  He  exhibited 
neither  dejection  nor  anger,  but  bowed  to  the  calamity  as  to 
a  chastisement  he  needed  from  God.  The  victory  of  the  in- 
surgents, if  they  may  be  so  called,  who  occupied  the  prov- 
inces in  the  valley  of  the  Dnieper,  was  not  promotive  either 
of  prosperity  or  peace.  Mindful  of  the  former  grandeur  of 
Kiel"  as  the  ancient  capital  of  the  Russian  empire,  ambitious 
])rinces  were  immediately  contending  for  the  ])ossession  of 
that  tlirone.  After  several  months  of  confusion  and  blood, 
Andre  succeeded,  by  skillful  diplomacy,  in  again  inducing 
them,  for  the  sake  of  general  tranquillity,  to  come  under  the 
general  government  of  the  empire.  The  nobles  could  not  but 
respect  him  as  the  most  aged  of  their  pj-inces;  as  a  man  of 
imperial  energy  and  ability,  and  as  the  one  most  woithy  to  be 
their  chief.  Ho  alone  had  the  power  to  preserve  tranquillity 
in  extended  Russia.  They  therefore  applied  to  him  to  take 
Kief,  under  certain  restrictions,  again  into  his  protection,  and 
to  nominate  for  that  city  a  prince  who  should  be  in  his  alliance. 
This  homage  was  acceptable  to  Andre. 

But  while  he  was  engaged  in  tliis  negotiation,  a  conspiracy 
was  formed  against  the  monarch,  and  he  was  cruelly  assasin- 
ated.  It  was  the  night  of  the  29th  of  June,  1174.  The  king 
was  sleeping  in  a  chateau,  two  miles  from  Moscow.  At  mid- 
night the  conspirators,  twenty  in  nun)ber,  having  inflamed 
themselves  with  brandy,  burst  into  the  house  and  rushed  to- 
wards the  chamber  where  the  aged  monarcli  w  as  reposing.  Tiie 
clamor  awoke  the  king,  and  he  sprang  from  the  bed  just  as 
two  of  the  conspirators  entered  his  chamber.  Aged  as  the 
monarch  was,  with  one  blow  of  his  vigorous  arm  he  felled  the 
foremost  to  the  floor.  The  comrade  of  the  assassin,  in  the 
confusion,  tiiinking  it  was  the  king  who  had  liillen,  plunged 
bis  poignard  ti)  the  liilt  in  his  companion's  breast.  Otlier  as- 
sassins ruslicd  in  ami  fell  upon  the  monarch.  He  was  a  man 
of  gigantic  pcjwers,  and  struggled  against  his  toes  with  almost 
supernatural  energy,  iilling  the  chateau   with  his  shrieks  i'or 


9G  T  II  E    E  M  P  I  R  E     O  F     R  U  S  S  I  A  . 

help.  At  last,  pierced  with  innumerable  wounds,  he  fell  in 
his  blood,  apparently  silent  in  death.  The  assassins,  terriiied 
by  the  horrible  scene,  and  apprehensive  that  the  guard  might 
come  to  the  rescue  of  the  king,  caught  up  their  dead  comrade 
and  fled. 

The  monarch  had,  however,  but  fainted.  He  almost  in- 
stantly revived,  and  with  impetuosity  and  bravery,  seized  his 
sword  and  gave  chase  to  the  murderers,  shouting  with  all  his 
strength  to  his  attendants  to  hasten  to  his  aid.  The  assassins 
turned  upon  him.  They  had  lanterns  in  their  hands,  and  were 
twenty  to  one.  The  first  blow  struck  oif  the  riglit  arm  of  the 
king  ;  a  saber  thrust  pierced  liis  heart,  passed  through  his 
body,  and  the  monarch  fell  dead.  His  last  words  were, 
"  Lord,  into  thy  hands  I  commit  my  spirit."  There  is,  to 
this  day,  preserved  a  cimeter  of  Grecian  workmanship,  which 
tradition  says  was  the  sword  of  Andre.  Upon  the  blade  is 
inci-ibed  in  Greek  letters,  "  Holy  mother  of  God,  assist  thy 
servant." 

The  death  of  the  monarcli  was  the  signal  for  the  universal 
outbreak  of  violence  and  crime.  Where  the  sovereign  is  the 
only  law,  the  death  of  the  monarch  is  the  destruction  of  the 
government.  The  anarchy  which  sometimes  succeeded  his 
death  was  awful.  The  Russian  annalists  cherish  the  memory 
of  Andre  aflectionately.  They  say  that  he  was  courageous,  sa- 
gacious and  a  true  Christian,  and  that  he  merited  the  title  he 
has  received  of  a  second  Solomon.  Had  he  established  his 
throne  in  the  more  central  city  of  Kief  instead  of  the  remote 
village  of  Moscow,  he  could  more  etticiently  have  governed 
the  empire  ;  but,  blinded  by  his  love  for  his  own  northern 
realms,  he  was  ambitious  of  elevating  his  own  native  village, 
unfavorable  as  was  its  location,  into  the  capital  of  the  empire. 
During  his  whole  reign  he  manifested  great  zeal  in  extending 
Christianity  through  the  empire,  and  evinced  great  interest 
in  efforts  for  the  conversion  of  the  -Jews. 

Just  before  the  death  of  the  king,  a  number  of  the  iuhab- 


MSTISLAF     AND     ANDKE.  97 

itants  of  "N"ovgorod,  fatigued  with  civil  strife  and  crowded  out 
by  the  density  of  tlie  population,  formed  a  party  to  emigrate 
to  the  uninhabited  lands  far  away  in  the  East.  Traversing  a 
region  of  about  three  hundred  miles  on  the  parallel  of  fifty- 
seven  degrees  of  latitude,  they  reached  the  head  waters  of 
the  Volga.  Here  they  embarked  in  boats  and  drifted  down 
the  wild  stream  for  a  thousand  miles  to  the  mouth  of  the 
river  Kama,  where  they  established  a  colony.  At  this  point 
they  were  twelve  hundred  miles  north  of  the  point  where  the 
Volga  empties  into  the  Caspian.  Other  adventurers  soon  fol- 
lowed, and  flourishing  colonies  sprang  up  all  along  the  banks 
of  the  Kama  and  the  Viatha.  This  region  was  the  Missouri 
valley  of  Russia.  By  this  emigration  the  Russian  name,  its 
manners,  its  institutions,  were  extended  through  a  sweep  of 
a  thousand  miles. 

The  colonists  had  many  conflicts  with  the  aboriginal  inhab- 
itants, but  Russian  civilization  steadily  advanced  over  bai'baric 
force. 

Soon  after  the  death  of  Andre,  the  nobles  of  that  region 
met  in  a  public  assembly  to  organize  some  form  of  confederate 
government.  One  of  the  speakers  rose  and  said,  "No  one  is 
ignorant  of  the  manner  in  which  we  have  lost  our  king.  He 
has  left  but  one  son,  who  reigns  at  Novgorod.  The  brothers 
of  Andre  are  in  southern  Russia.  Who  then  shall  we  choose 
for  our  sovereign  ?  Let  us  elect  Michel,  of  Tchernigof  He 
is  the  oldest  son  of  Monomaque  and  the  most  ancient  of  the 
princes  of  his  family." 

Embassadors  were  immediately  sent  to  Michel,  oflTering 
him  the  throne  and  promising  liim  the  support  of  the  confed- 
erate piinces.  Michel  hastened  to  Moscow  witli  a  strong 
army,  supported  by  several  princes,  and  took  j)Osscssion  of 
Moscow  and  the  adjacent  provinces.  A  little  opposition  Avas 
manifested,  which  he  speedily  quelled  with  the  sword.  Great 
rejoicings  welcomed  the  enthronement  of  a  new  ])rince  and 
the  restoration  of  order.     Michel  proved  worthy  of  his  eleva- 


98  THE     EMPIRE      OFRUSSIA. 

tion.  He  immediately  traversed  the  different  jirovinces  in 
that  regiou,  and  devoted  himself  to  the  tranquillity  and  pros- 
perity of  his  people.  The  popularity  of  the  new  sovereign 
was  at  its  heiglit.  Ail  lips  praised  him,  all  hearts  loved  him. 
He  was  declared  to  be  a  special  gift  which  Heaven,  in  its 
boundless  mercy,  had  conferred.  Unfortunately,  tliis  virtu- 
ous prince  reigned  but  one  year,  leaving,  however,  in  that 
short  time,  upon  the  Russian  annals  many  memorials  of  his 
valor  and  of  his  virtue.  It  was  a  barbaric  age,  rife  with  per- 
fidy and  crime,  yet  not  one  act  of  treachery  or  cruelty  has 
sullied  his  name.  It  was  his  ambition  to  be  the  father  of  his 
people,  and  the  glory  he  sought  was  the  happiness  and  the 
greatness  of  his  country. 

Southern  Russia  was  still  the  theater  of  interminable  civil 
war.  The  provinces  were  impoverished,  and  Kief  was  fast 
sinking  to  decay.  Michel  had  a  brother,  Vsevelod,  who  had 
accompanied  him  to  Moscow.  Tlie  nobles  and  the  leading- 
citizens,  their  eyes  still  dim  with  the  tears  which  they  had 
shed  over  the  tomb  of  their  sovereign,  m-ged  him  to  accept 
the  crown.  He  was  not  reluctant  to  accede  to  their  request, 
and  received  their  oaths  of  fidelity  to  him  under  the  title  of 
Vsevelod  III.  His  title,  however,  was  disputed  by  distant 
princes,  and  an  armed  band,  approaching  Moscow  by  surprise, 
seized  the  town  and  reduced  it  to  ashes,  ravaged  the  sur- 
rounding region,  and  cai-ricd  olt"  the  women  and  children  as 
captives.  Vsevelod  was,  at  the  time,  absent  in  the  extreme 
nortliern  portion  of  his  territory,  but  he  turned  upon  his  ene- 
mies with  the  heart  and  with  the  strength  of  a  lion.  It  was 
midwinter.  Regardless  of  storms,  and  snow  and  cold,  he 
pursued  the  foe  like  the  nortii  wind,  and  crushed  them  as 
Avitli  an  iron  hand.  With  a  large  number  of  prisoners  he 
returned  to  the  ruins  of  Moscow. 

Two  of  the  most  illustrious  of  the  hostile  princes  were 
among  the  prisoners.     The  people,  enraged  at  the  destruc- 


M  S  T  I  S  L  A  F     A  ^^  D*     A  N  D  Pv  E  .  99 

tion  of  tlioir  city,  fell  upon  llie  captives,  and,  seizing  the  two 
princes,  tore  out  their  eyes. 

Vsevelod  was  a  young  man  who  had  not  acquired  renown. 
Many  of  the  warlike  princes  of  tlie  spacious  provinces  re- 
garded his  elevation  with  envy.  Sviatoslaf,  prince  of  Tcher- 
nigof,  was  roused  to  intense  hostility,  and.  gathering  around 
him  the  nobles  of  his  province,  resolved  with  a  vigorous  arm 
to  seize  for  himself  the  throne.  Enlisting  in  his  interests 
several  other  princes,  he  commenced  his  march  against  his 
sovereign.  Vsevelod  prepared  with  vigor  to  repulse  his  as- 
sailants. After  long  and  weary  marchings  the  two  armies 
met  in  the  defiles  of  the  mountains.  A  swift  mountain-stream 
rushing  along  its  I'ocky  bed,  between  deep  and  precipitous 
banks,  separated  the  combatants.  For  a  fortnight  they  vainly 
assailed  each  other,  hui'ling  clouds  of  arrows  and  javelins 
across  the  stream,  which  generally  fell  harmless  upon  brazen 
helmet  and  buckler.  But  i'ew  were  wounded,  and  still  fewer 
slain.  Yet  neither  party  dared  venture  the  passage  of  the 
stream  in  the  presence  of  the  other.  At  length,  weary  of  the 
unavailing  conflict,  Sviatoslatj  the  insurgent  chief,  sent  a  clial- 
lenge  to  Vsevelod,  the  sovereign. 

"  Let  God,"  said  he,  "  decide  the  dispute  between  us.  Let 
us  enter  into  the  open  field  with  our  two  armies,  and  submit 
the  question  to  the  arbitrament  of  battle.  You  may  choose 
either  side  of  the  river  which  you  please." 

Vsevelod  did  not  condescend  to  make  any  reply  to  the 
rebellious  prince.  Seizing  his  embassadors,  lie  sent  them  as 
captives  to  Vlademer,  a  fortress  some  hundred  miles  east  of 
Moscow.  lie  hoped  thus  to  provoke  Sviatoslaf  to  attempt 
the  passage  of  tlie  stream.  Yint  Sviatoslaf  was  not  to  be 
thus  entrappCiL  J?reaking  up  his  camp,  he  retired  to  Nov- 
gorod, where  he  was  received  with  rejoicings  by  the  inhab- 
itants. Here  he  established  himself  as  a  monarch,  accumu- 
lated his  forces,  and  began,  by  diplomacy  and  by  arms,  to  ex- 
tend his  conquests  over  the  adjacent  principalities.     He  sent 


100  THE     EMPIRE     OF     RUSSIA. 

a  powerful  army  to  descend  the  banks  of  the  Dnieper,  cap- 
turing all  the  cities  on  the  right  hand  and  on  the  left,  and 
binding  the  inhabitants  by  oaths  of  allegiance.  The  army 
advancing  with  resistless  strides  arrived  before  tlie  walls  of 
Kief,  took  possession  of  the  deserted  palaces  of  this  ancient 
capital,  and  Sviatoslaf  proclaimed  himself  monarch  of  south- 
ern Russia. 

But  while  Sviatoslaf  was  thus  jirosecuting  his  conquests, 
at  the  distance  of  four  hundred  miles  south  of  Novgorod, 
Vsevelod  advanced  with  an  army  to  this  city,  and  was  in  his 
turn  received  by  the  Novgorodians  with  the  ringing  of  bells, 
bonfires  and  shouts  of  welcome.  All  the  surrounding  princes 
and  nobles  promptly  gave  in  their  adhesion  to  the  victorious 
sovereign,  and  Sviatoslaf  found  that  all  his  conquests  had 
vanished  as  by  magic  from  beneath  his  hand. 

Under  these  circumstances,  Vsevelod  and  Sviatoslaf  were 
both  inclined  to  negotiation.  As  the  result,  it  was  agreed 
that  Vsevelod  should  be  recognized  as  the  monarch  of  Rus- 
sia, and  that  Sviatoslaf  should  reign  as  tributary  prince  of 
Kief.  To  bind  anew  the  ties  of  friendship),  Vsevelod  gave  in 
marriage  his  beautiful  sister  to  the  youngest  son  of  Sviatos- 
laf    Thus  this  civil  strife  was  terminated. 

But  the  gates  of  the  temple  of  Janus  were  not  yet  to  be 
closed.  Foreign  war  now  commenced,  and  raged  with  un- 
usual ferocity.  Six  hundred  miles  east  of  Moscow,  was  the 
country  of  Bulgaria.  It  comprehended  the  present  Russian 
province  of  Orenburg,  and  was  bounded  on  the  east  by  the 
Ural  mountains,  and  on  the  west  by  the  Volga.  A  popula- 
tion of  nearly  a  million  and  a  half  inhabited  this  inountain- 
ous  realm.  Commerce  and  arts  flourished,  and  the  peoj^le 
were  enriched  by  their  commerce  with  the  Grecian  empire. 
They  were,  however,  barbarians,  and  as  even  in  the  nineteenth 
century  the  slave  trade  is  urged  as  a  means  of  evangelizing 
the  heathen  of  Africa,  war  was  urged  with  all  its  carnage  and 
woe,  as  the  agent  of  disseminating  Christianity  through  pagan 


MSTISLAF     AND     ANDEE.  101 

Bulgaria.  The  motive  assigned  for  the  war,  was  to  serve 
Christ,  by  the  conversion  of  the  intideh  The  motives  which 
influenced,  were  ambition,  love  of  conquest  and  the  desire  to 
add  to  the  opulence  and  the  power  of  Russia. 

Vsevelod  made  grand  preparations  for  this  enterprise. 
Conferring  with  the  warlike  Sviatoslaf  and  other  ambitious 
princes,  a  large  array  was  collected  at  the  head  waters  of  the 
Volga.  They  floated  down  the  wild  stream,  in  capacious  flat- 
bottomed  barges,  till  they  came  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kama. 
Thus  far  their  expedition  had  been  like  the  jaunt  of  a  gala 
day.  Summer  warmth  and  sunny  skies  had  cheered  them  as 
they  floated  down  the  romantic  stream,  through  forests,  be- 
tween mountains  and  along  flowery  savannas,  with  pennants 
floating  gayly  in  the  air,  and  music  swelling  from  their  martial 
bands.  War  has  always  its  commencement  of  pomp  and 
pageantry,  followed  by  its  terminations  of  woe  and  despair. 

Vsevelod  in  person  led  the  army.  Near  the  mouth  of 
the  Kama  they  abandoned  their  flotilla,  which  could  not  be 
employed  in  ascending  the  rapid  stream.  Continuing  their 
march  by  land,  they  pushed  boldly  into  the  country  of  the 
Bulgarians,  and  laid  siege  to  their  capital,  which  was  called 
"  The  Great  City."  For  six  days  the  battle  raged,  and  the 
city  was  taken.  It  proved,  however,  to  be  but  a  barren  con- 
quest. An  arrow  from  the  walls  pierced  the  side  of  a  beloved 
nephew  of  Vsevelod.  The  young  man,  in  excruciating  agony, 
died  in  the  arms  of  the  monarch.  Vsevelod  was  so  much 
aflected  by  the  suflTerings  which  he  was  thus  called  to  witness, 
that,  dejected  and  disheartened,  he  made  the  best  terms  he 
could,  soothing  his  pride  by  extorting  from  the  vanquished  a 
vague  acknowledgment  of  subjection  to  the  empire.  He  then 
commenced  his  long  march  of  toil  and  suffering  back  again  to 
Moscow,  over  vast  plains  and  through  dense  forests,  having 
really  accomplished  nothing  of  any  moment. 

The  reign  of  Vsevelod  continued  for  thirty-seven  years. 
It  was  a  scene  of  incessant  conflict  with  insurgent  princes  dis- 


102  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

puling  his  power  and  struggling  for  the  supremacy.  Often 
his  imperial  title  was  merely  nominal.  Again  a  successful 
battle  would  humble  his  foes  and  bring  them  in  subjection  to 
the  foot  of  his  throne.  But,  on  the  whole,  durhig  his  reign 
the  fragmentary  empire  gained  solidity,  the  monarchical  arm 
gained  strength,  and  the  sovereign  obtained  a  more  marked 
supremacy  above  the  rival  princes  who  had  so  long  disjiuted 
the  power  of  the  throne.  Vsevelod  died,  generally  regretted, 
on  the  12th  of  April,  1212.  In  the  Russian  annals,  he  has 
received  the  surname  of  Great.  His  reign,  compared  with 
that  of  most  of  his  predecessors,  was  happy.  He  left,  in 
churches  and  in  fortresses,  many  monuments  of  his  devotion 
and  of  his  military  skill. 

His  wife,  Maria,  seems  to  have  been  a  woman  of  sincere 
piety.  Her  brief  pilgrimage  on  earth,  passed  six  hundred 
years  ago,  led  her  through  the  same  joys  and  griefs  which  in 
the  ninteeuth  century  oppress  human  hearts.  The  last  seven 
years  of  her  life  she  passed  on  a  bed  of  sickness  and  extreme 
suffering.  The  joatience  she  displayed  caused  her  to  be  com- 
pared with  the  patriarch  Job.  Just  before  she  died,  she 
assembled  her  six  surviving  children  around  her  bed.  As 
with  tears  they  gazed  upon  the  emaciated  cheeks  of  their 
beloved  and  dying  mother,  she  urged  them  to  love  God,  to 
study  the  Bible,  to  give  their  hearts  to  the  Saviour  and  to  live 
for  heaven.     She  died  universally  regretted  and  revered. 

The  reign  of  Vsevelod  was  cotemporaneous  with  the  con- 
quest of  Constantinople  by  the  crusaders.  Tlie  Latin  or 
Roman  church  thus  for  a  season  extended  its  dominion  over 
tlie  Greek  or  Eastern  church.  The  French  and  Venetian!^ 
robbed  the  rich  churches  of  Constantine  of  their  paintings, 
statuary,  relics  and  all  their  treasures  of  art.  The  Greek 
emperor  himself  fled  in  disguise  to  Thrace. 

The  Roman  pontitt",  Innocent  III.,  deeming  this  a  favor- 
able moment  to  supplant  the  Greek  religion  in  Russia,  sent 
letters  to  the  Russian  clergy,  in  which  he  said : 


MSTISLAF     AND     ANDKfi.  103 

"  The  religion  of  Rome  is  becoming  universally  trium- 
phant. The  whole  Grecian  empire  has  recognized  the  spirit- 
ual power  of  tlie  pope.  Will  you  be  the  only  people  who 
refuse  to  enter  into  the  fold  of  Christ,  and  to  recognize  the 
Roman  churcli  as  the  ark  of  salvation,  out  of  which  no  one 
can  be  saved  ?  I  have  sent  to  you  a  cardinal ;  a  man  noble, 
well-instructed,  and  legate  of  the  successors  of  the  Apostles, 
He  has  received  full  power  to  enlighten  the  mhids  of  the  Rus- 
sians, and  to  rescue  them  from  all  their  errors." 

This  pastoral  exhortation  was  entirely  unavailing.  The 
bishops  and  clergy  of  the  Russian  churcli  still  pertinaciously 
adhered  to  the  fiith  of  their  fathers.  The  crusaders  were  ere 
long  driven  from  the  imperial  city,  and  the  Greek  church 
again  attained  its  supremacy  in  the  East,  a  supremacy  which 
it  has  maintained  to  the  present  day. 


CHAPTER    VI. 

THE    GRAND    PRINCES    OP    VLADIMIR,    AND    THE    INVASION 
OF    GENGHIS   KHAN. 

From  1212  to  1238. 

Accession  of  Georges. — Famine. — Battle  op  Lipetsk. — Defeat  of  Georges. — His 

SUKEENDER. — CONSTANTIN  SEIZES  TUE  SCEPTEE. — EXPLOITS  OP  MsTISLAF. — IMBECIL- 
ITY OP  CONSTANTIN. — DeATH  OF  CONSTANTIN. — GeORQES  III. — INVASION  OP  BUL- 
GARIA.— Progeess  of  the  Monarchy. — Eight  op  Succession.— Commerce  of  the 
Dnieper. — Genghis  Khan. — His  Eise  and  Conquests. — Invasion  op  Southern 
EussiA.— Death  op  Genghis  Khan.— Succession  of  his  Son  Ougadai. — Maecu  op 
Bati. — Enteance  into  Eussia. — Utter  Defeat  of  the  Eussians. 

MOSCOW  was  the  capital  of  a  province  then  called  Souz- 
dal.  North-west  of  this  province  there  was  another 
large  principality  called  Vladimir,  with  a  capital  of  the  same 
name.  North  of  these  provinces  there  was  an  extensive  terri- 
tory named  Yaroslave.  Immediately  after  the  death  of  Vse- 
volod,  a  brother  of  the  deceased  monarch,  named  Georges, 
ascended  the  throne  with  the  assent  of  all  the  nobles  of  Souz- 
dal  and  Vladimir.  At  the  same  time  his  brother  Constan- 
tin,  prince  of  Yaroslavle,  claimed  the  crown.  Eager  partizans 
rallied  around  the  two  aspirants.  Constantin  made  the  first 
move  by  burning  the  town  of  Kostroma  and  carrying  oft'  the 
inhabitants  as  captives.  Georges  replied  by  an  equally  san- 
guinary assault  upon  Rostof  Such,  war  has  ever  been.  When 
princes  quarrel,  being  unable  to  strike  each  other,  they  wreak 
their  vengeance  upon  innocent  and  helpless  villages,  burning 
their  houses,  slaying  sons  and  brothers,  and  either  dragging 
widows  and  orphans  hito  captivity  or  leaving  them  to  perish 
of  exposure  and  starvation. 

In  this  conflict  Georges  was  victor,  and  he  assigned  to  his 


THE     GKAND     PRINCES     OF     VLADIMIR.        105 

bvothei's  and  cousins  the  administration  of  the  provinces  of 
southern  Russia.  Still  the  ancient  annals  give  us  nothing  but 
a  dreary  record  of  war.  A  very  energetic  prince  arose,  by 
the  name  of  IMstislaf,  who,  for  years,  strode  over  subjugated 
provinces,  desolating  them  with  fire  and  sword.  Another 
horrible  famine  commenced  its  ravages  at  this  time,  caused 
principally  by  the  desolations  of  war,  throughout  all  northern 
and  eastern  Russia.  The  starving  inhabitants  ate  the  bark 
of  trees,  leaves  and  the  most  disgusting  reptiles.  The  streets 
were  covered  with  the  bodies  of  the  dead,  abandoned  to  the 
dogs.  Crowds  of  skeleton  men  and  women  wandered  through 
the  fields,  in  vain  seeking  food,  and  ever  dropping  in  the  con- 
vulsions of  death.  Christian  faith  is  stunned  in  the  contem- 
plation of  such  woes,  and  yet  it  sees  in  them  but  the  fruits  of 
man's  depravity.  The  enigma  of  life  can  find  no  solution  but 
in  divine  revelation — and  even  that  revelation  does  but  show 
in  what  direction  the  solution  lies. 

Mstislaf  of  Novgorod,  encouraged  by  his  military  success, 
and  regardless  of  the  woes  of  the  populace,  entered  into  an 
alliance  with  Constantin,  promising,  with  his  aid,  to  drive 
Georges  from  the  throne,  and  to  place  the  scepter  in  the 
hands  of  Constantin.  The  king  sent  an  army  often  thousand 
men  against  the  insurgents.  All  over  Russia  there  was  the 
choosing  of  sides,  as  prince  after  prince  ranged  his  followers 
under  the  banners  of  one  or  of  the  other  of  the  combatants. 
At  last  the  two  armies  met  upon  the  banks  of  the  river  Kza. 
The  Russian  annalists  say  that  the  sovereign  was  surrounded 
with  the  banners  of  thirty  regiments,  accompanied  by  a  mili- 
tary band  of  X)ne  hundred  and  forty  trumpets  and  drums. 

The  insurgent  princes,  either  alarmed  by  the  power  of  the 
sovereign,  or  anxious  to  spare  the  efl:usion  of  blood,  proposed 
terms  of  accommodation. 

"It  is  too  late  to  talk  of  peace,''  said  Georges.  "You 
are  now  as  tishes  on  the  land.  You  have  advanced  too  far, 
and  your  destruction  is  inevitable." 


106  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

The  embassadors  retired  in  sadness.  Georges  tlien  assem- 
bled liis  eajjlains,  and  gave  orders  to  form  the  troops  in  Une 
of  battle.     Addressing  the  troops,  he  said  : 

"  Let  no  soldier's  life  be  spared.  Aim  particularly  at  the 
officers.  The  helmets,  the  clothes  and  the  horses  of  the  dead 
shall  belong  to  you.  Let  us  not  be  troubled  with  any  pris- 
oners. The  princes  alone  may  be  taken  captive,  and  reserved 
for  public  execution." 

Both  parties  now  prepared,  with  soundings  of  the  trum- 
pet and  shoutings  of  the  soldiers,  for  combat.  It  w^as  in  the 
early  dawn  of  the  morning  that  the  celebrated  battle  of 
Lipetsk  commenced.  The  ai-ena  of  strife  was  a  valley,  broken 
by  rugged  hills,  on  the  head  waters  of  the  Don,  about  two 
hundred  miles  south  of  Moscow.  It  was  a  gloomy  day  of 
wind,  and  clouds  and  rain  ;  and  while  the  cruel  tempest  of 
man's  passion  swept  the  earth,  an  elemental  tempest  wrecked 
the  skies.  From  the  morning  till  the  evening  twilight  the 
battle  raged,  inspired  by  the  antagonistic  forces  of  haughty 
confidence  and  of  despair.  Darkness  separated  the  combat- 
ants, neither  i^arty  having  gained  any  decisive  advantage. 

The  night  was  freezing  cold,  a  chill  April  wind  sweeping 
the  mists  over  the  heights,  upon  wliich  the  two  hosts,  ex- 
hausted and  bleeding,  slept  upon  their  arms,  each  fearing  a 
midnight  surprise.  With  the  earliest  dawn  of  the  next  morn- 
ing the  battle  was  renewed  ;  both  armies  defiantly  and  simul- 
taneously moving  down  i\o\n  the  hills  to  meet  on  the  plains. 
Mstislaf  rode  along  the  ranks  of  his  troops,  exclaiming  : 

"Let  no  man  turn  his  head.  Retreat  now  is  destruction. 
Let  us  forget  our  wives  and  children,  and  light  for  our  lives." 
''  His  soldiers,  with  shouts  of  enthusiasm,  threw  aside  all 
encumbering  clothes,  and  uttering  those  loud  outcries  with 
which  semi-bai'barians  ever  rush  into  battle,  impetuously  fell 
upon  the  advancing  foe.  Mstislaf  was  a  prince  of  herculean 
stature  and  strength.  With  a  battle-ax  in  his  hands,  he  ad- 
vanced before  the  troops,  and  it  is  recorded  that,  striking  on 


THE      GRAND      PKIJs^CES     OF      VLADIMIli,       107 

the  right  hand  and  the  left,  he  cut  a  path  through  the  ranks 
of  the  enemy  as  a  strong  man  wouhl  trample  down  the  grain. 
A  wake  of  the  dead  marked  his  path.  It  was  one  of  tlie 
most  deplorable  of  Russian  battles,  for  the  dispute  had  ar- 
rayed the  son  against  the  father,  brother  against  brother, 
friend  against  friend. 

The  victory,  however,  was  now  not  for  a  moment  doubtful. 
The  royal  forces  were  entirely  routed,  and  were  pursued  with 
enormous  slaughter  by  the  victorious  Mstislaf.  Nearly  ten 
thousand  of  the  followers  of  Georges  were  slain  upon  the 
field  of  battle.  Georges  having  had  three  horses  killed  be- 
neath him,  escaped,  and  on  the  fourth  day  reached  Vladimir, 
where  he  found  only  old  men,  women,  children  and  ecclesias- 
tics, so  entirely  had  he  drained  the  country  for  the  war. 
The  king  himself  was  the  first  to  announce  to  the  citizens  of 
Vladimir  the  terrible  defeat.  Wan  from  fatigue  and  suffering, 
he  rode  in  at  the  gates,  his  hair  disheveled,  and  his  clothing 
torn.  As  he  traversed  the  streets,  he  called  earnestly  upon 
all  who  remained  to  rally  upon  the  walls  for  their  defense. 
It  was  late  in  the  afternoon  when  the  king  reached  the  metrop. 
olis.  During  the  night  a  throng  of  fugitives  was  continually 
entering  the  city,  wounded  and  bleeding.  In  the  early  morn- 
ing, the  king  assembled  the  citizens  in  the  public  square,  and 
urged  them  to  a  desperate  resistance.  But  they,  disheartened 
by  the  awful  reverse,  exclaimed  : 

"  Prince,  courage  can  no  longer  save  us.  Our  brethren 
have  perished  on  the  field  of  battle.  Those  who  have  escaped 
are  wounded,  exhausted  and  unarmed.  We  are  unable  to 
oppose  the  enemy." 

Georges  entreated  them  to  make  at  least  a  show  of  resist- 
ance, that  he  might  open  negotiations  with  the  foe.  Soon 
Mstislaf  appeared,  leading  liis  troops  in  solid  phalanx,  with 
waving  banners  and  trumpet  l)lasts,  and  surrounded  the  city. 
In  the  night,  a  terrible  conliagration  burst  forth  within  the 
city,  and  his  soldici-s  cnlrcated  him  to  ialic  advaiilagc  of  the 
« 


108  THE     EMTIEE      OP      RUSSIA. 

confusion  for  an  immediate  assault.  The  magnanimous  con- 
queror refused  to  avail  himself  of  the  calamity,  and  restrained 
the  ardor  of  his  troops.  The  next  moi'niug,  Georges  despair- 
ing of  any  further  defense,  rode  from  the  gates  into  the  camp 
of  Mstislaf. 

"You  are  victorious,"  said  he.  "Dispose  of  me  and  my 
fortunes  as  you  will.  My  biolher  Constantin  will  be  obedient 
to  your  wishes." 

The  uniiappy  prince  was  sent  into  exile.  Embarking, 
with  his  wife  and  children,  and  a  few  faithful  followers,  in 
barges,  at  the  head  waters  of  the  Volga,  he  floated  down  the 
stream  towards  the  Caspian  Sea,  and  disappeared  for  ever  from 
the  observation  of  history. 

Constantin  was  now  raised  to  the  imperial  throne  through 
the  energies  of  Mstislaf.  This  latter  prince  returned  to  his 
domains  in  Novgorod,  and  under  the  protection  of  the  throne 
he  rivaled  the  monarch  in  splendor  and  power.  Constantin 
established  his  capital  at  Vladimir,  about  one  hundred  and 
lifty  miles  west  of  Moscow.  The  warlike  Mstislaf,  greedy  of 
renown,  with  the  chivalry  of  a  knight-errant,  sought  to  have  a 
hand  in  every  quarrel  then  raging  far  or  near.  Southern 
Russia  continued  in  a  state  of  incessant  embroilments ;  and 
the  princes  of  the  provinces,  but  nominally  in  subjection  to 
the  crown,  lived  in  a  state  of  interminable  war.  Occasionally 
they  would  sheath  the  sword  of  civil  strife  and  combine  in 
some  important  expedition  against  the  Hungarians  or  the 
Poles. 

But  tranquillity  reigned  in  the  principahty  of  Vladimir ; 
and  the  adjacent  provinces,  influenced  by  the  pacific  policy  of 
the  sovereign,  or  overawed  by  his  power,  cultivated  the  arts 
of  peace.  Constantin,  however,  was  efleminale  as  well  as 
peaceful.  The  tremendous  energy  ot  Mstislaf  had  shed  some 
luster  upon  him,  and  thus,  lor  a  time,  it  was  supposed  that  he 
possessed  a  share,  no  one  knew  how  great,  of  that  extraordi- 
nary vigor  which  had  i)laced  him  on   the  throne.     But  now, 


THE     GKAXD     PRINCES      OP     VLADIMIR.       109 

Mstislaf  was  far  away  on  bloody  fields  iu  Hungavy,  and  the 
princes  in  the  vicinity  of  Vladimir  soon  found  that  Constant  in 
had  no  spirit  to  resent  any  of  their  encroachments.     Enor- 
mous crimes  were  perpetrated  with  impunity.     Princes  were 
assassinated,  and  the  murderers  seized  their  castles  and  their 
scepters,  while  the  imbecile  Constantin,  instead  of  avenging 
such  outrages,  contented  himself  with  shedding  tears,  build- 
ing churches,  distributing  alms,  and  kissing  the  relics  of  the 
saints,  which   had   been   sent   to   him  from   Constantinople. 
Thus  he  lived  for  several  years,  a  superstitious,  perhaps  a 
])ious  man  ;  but,  so  utterly  devoid  of  energy,  of  enlightened 
views  respecting  his  duty  as  a  j-uler,  that  the  helpless  were 
unprotected,  and  the  wicked  rioted  unpunished  in  crime.     He 
died  in  the  year  1219  at  the  early  age  of  thirty-three.     Find- 
ing death  approaching,  he  called  his  two  sons  to  his  bedside, 
and  exhorted  them  to  live  in   brotherly  aiiection,  to  be  the 
benefactors  of  widows  and  orphans,  and  especially  to  be  the 
supporters  of  religion.     The  wife  of  Constantin,  imbibing  his 
spii'it,  immediately  upon  his  death  renounced  the  world,  and 
retiring  to  the  cloisters  of  a  convent,  immured  herself  in  its 
glooms  until  she  also  rejoined  her  husband  in  the  spirit  land.. 
Georges  II.,  son  of  Vsevelod,  now  ascended  the  throne. 
He  signalized  the  commencement  of  his  reign  by  a  military 
excursion  to  oriental  Bulgaria.      Descending   the   Volga  in 
barges  to  the  mouth  of  the  Kama,  he  invaded,  with  a  well- 
disciplined  army,  the  realm  he  Avished  to  subjugate.      The 
Ilussians  approached  the  city  of  Ochel.    It  was  strongly  forti- 
fied with  palisades  and  a  double  wall  of  wood.    The  assailants 
approached,  led  by  a  strong  party  w  ith  hatchets  and  torches. 
Tliey  were  closely  followed  by  archers  and  lancers  to  drive  the 
defenders  from  the  ramparts.     The  palisades  were   promptly 
cut  down  and  set  on  lire.     The  flames  spread  to  the  wooden 
walls ;  and  over  the  burning  ruins  the  assailants  rushed  into 
the  city.      A  high  wind    arose,  and  the  whole   city,   whose 
buildings  were  constructed  of  wood  only,  soon  blazed  liki^  a 


110  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA 

volcano.  The  Avrctched  citizens  had  but  to  choose  between 
the  swords  of  the  Russians  and  the  fire.  Many,  in  their  de- 
spair, plunged  their  poignards  into  the  bosoms  of  their  wives 
and  children,  and  then  buried  the  dripping  blade  in  their  own 
hearts.  Multitudes  of  the  Russians,  even,  encircled  by  the 
flames  in  the  narrow  streets,  miserably  perished.  In  a  few 
hours  the  city  and  nearly  all  of  its  male  inhabitants  were  de- 
stroyed. Extensive  regions  of  the  country  were  then  ravaged, 
and  Bulgaria,  as  a  conquered  province,  was  considered  as 
annexed  to  the  Russian  empire.  Georges  enriched  with  plun- 
der and  havhig  extorted  oaths  of  allegiance  from  most  of  the 
Bulgarian  princes,  reascended  the  Volga  to  Vladimir.  As 
he  was  on  his  return  he  laid  the  foundations  of  a  new  city, 
Nijni  Novgorod,  at  the  confluence  of  two  important  streams 
about  two  hundred  miles  west  of  Moscow.  The  city  remains 
to  the  present  day. 

It  will  be  perceived  through  what  slow  and  vacillating 
steps  the  Russian  monarchy  was  established.  In  the  earliest 
dawn  of  tlie  kingdom,  Yaroslaf  divided  Russia  into  five  prin- 
cipalities. To  liis  eldest  son  he  gave  the  title  of  Grand  Prince, 
constituting  him,  by  his  will,  chief  or  monarch  of  the  whole 
kingdom.  His  younger  brothers  were  placed  over  the  prin- 
cipalities, holding  them  as  vassals  of  the  grand  prince  at  Kief, 
and  transmitting  the  right  of  succession  to  their  children. 
Ysiaslaf,  and  some  of  his  descendants,  men  of  great  energy, 
succeeded  in  holding  under  more  or  less  of  restraint  the  tur- 
bulent princes,  who  were  simply  entitled  ^:»;Y'/^ce5,  to  distinguish 
them  from  the  Grand  Prince  or  monarch.  These  princes  had 
under  them  innumerable  vassal  lords,  who,  differing  in  wealth 
and  extent  of  dominions,  governed,  with  despotic  sway,  the 
serfs  or  ])easants  subject  to  their  power.  No  government 
could  be  more  simple  than  this;  and  it  was  the  necessary 
resultant  of  those  stormy  times. 

But  in  process  of  time  feeble  grand  princes  reigned  at 
Kief    The  vassal  princes,  strengtliening  themselves  in  alliances 


THE      GEAND     PRINCES      OF       .LA  DIM  IK.        Ill 

with  one  another,  or  seeking  aid  from  iLreigu  semi-civiHzed 
nations,  such  as  the  Poles,  the  Danes,  the  Hungarians,  ollen 
imposed  laws  upon  their  nominal  sovereign,  and  not  unfre- 
quently  drove  him  from  the  throne,  and  placed  upon  it  a 
monarch  of  their  own  choice.  Sviatopolk  II.  was  driven  to 
the  humiliation  of  appearing  to  defend  liiniself  from  accusa- 
tion before  the  tribunal  of  his  vassal  p.iuces.  Monomaque 
and  Mslislaf  I,,  with  imperial  energy,  brought  all  the  vassal 
princes  in  subjection  to  their  scepter,  :.rd  reigned  as  mon- 
archs.  But  their  successors,  not  possessing  like  qualities, 
W'ere  unable  to  maintain  the  regal  dig'  ity ;  and  gradually 
Kief  sank  into  a  provincial  town,  and  ti  e  scepter  was  trans- 
ferred to  the  principality  of  Souzdal. 

Andre,  of  Souzdal,  abolished  the  system  of  appcoiages^  as  it 
was  called,  in  which  the  principalities  we;  e  in  entire  subjection 
to  the  princes  who  reigned  over  them,  these  princes  only 
rendering  vassal  service  to  the  sovereign  He,  in  their  stead, 
appouited  governors  over  the  distant  provinces,  who  were 
his  agents  to  execute  his  commands.  This  measure  gave 
new  energy  and  consolidation  to  the  monarcliy,  and  added 
incalculable  sti'ength  to  the  regal  arm.  But  the  gi'and  princes, 
who  immediately  succeeded  Andre,  had  .'^ot  efficiency  to  main- 
tain this  system,  and  tlio  princes  again  regained  their  i)ositit)n 
of  comparative  independence.  Indeed,  they  were  undisputed 
.sovereigns  of  their  principalities,  bound  < 'uly  to  recognize  the 
superior  rank  of  the  gi-and  prince,  and  to  aid  him,  when 
called  upon,  as  allies. 

In  process  of  time  the  princes  of  the  five  great  principal- 
ities, Pereiaslavle,  Tcheiiiigof,  Kief,  Novgorod  and  Smolensk, 
were  subdivided,  through  the  energies  of  warlike  nobles,  into 
minor  ajipanages,  or  independent  provinces,  independent  in 
every  thing  save  feudal  service,  a  service  often  feebly  recog- 
nized and  dimly  delined.  The  sovereigns  of  the  great  j)rov- 
inces  assumed  the  title  of  Grand  Princes.  The  smaller  sover- 
eigns were  simply  called  Princes.     Under  these  princes  were 


112  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

the  petty  lords  or  nobles.  The  spirit  of  all  evil  could  not 
have  devised  a  system  better  calculated  to  keep  a  nation 
incessantly  embroiled  in  war.  The  princes  of  Novgorod 
claimed  the  right  of  choosing  their  grand  prince.  In  all  the 
other  provinces  the  scepter  was  nominally  hereditary.  In 
l)oint  of  fact,  it  was  only  hereditary  when  the  one  who  as- 
cended the  throne  had  sufficient  vigor  of  arm  to  beat  back 
his  assailing  foes.  For  two  hundred  years,  during  nearly  all 
of  the  eleventh  and  twelfth  centuries,  it  is  with  difficulty  we 
can  discern  any  traces  of  the  monarchy.  The  history  of  Rus- 
sia during  this  period  is  but  a  history  of  interminable  battles 
between  the  grand  princes,  and  petty,  yet  most  cruel  and 
bloody,  conflicts  between  the  minor  princes. 

The  doctrine  of  the  hereditary  descent  of  the  governing- 
power  Avas  the  cause  of  nearly  all  these  conflicts.  A  semi- 
idiot  or  a  brutal  ruftian  was  thus  often  found  the  ruler  of  mil- 
lions of  energetic  men.  War  and  bloodshed  were,  of  course, 
the  inevitable  result.  Tliis  absurdity  was,  perhaps,  a  neces- 
sary consequence  of  the  ignorance  and  brutality  of  the  times. 
But  happy  is  that  nation  which  is  sufficiently  enlightened  to 
choose  its  own  magistrates  and  to  appreciate  the  sanctity  of 
the  ballot-box.  The  history  of  the  United  States  thus  fir, 
with  its  elective  administrations,  is  a  marvel  of  tranquillity, 
prosperity  and  joy,  as  it  is  recorded  amidst  the  bloody  pages 
of  this  world's  annals. 

According  to  the  ancient  custom  of  Russia,  the  right  of 
succession  transferred  the  crown,  not  to  the  oldest  son,  but  to 
the  brother  or  the  most  aged  member  belonging  to  the  family 
connections  of  the  deceased  prince.  The  energetic  Mono- 
maque  violated  this  law  by  transferring  the  crown  to  his  son, 
when,  by  custom,  it  should  have  passed  to  the  pi'inceof  Tcher- 
nigof.  Hence,  for  ages,  there  was  implacable  hatred  between 
these  two  houses,  and  Russia  was  crimsoned  with  the  blood 
of  a  hundred  battle-tields. 

Nearly  all  the  connnerce  of  Russia,  at  this  time,  was  car- 


THE     INVASION     OF     GENGHIS     KHAN.        113 

vied  on  between  Kief  and  Constantinople  by  barges  traversing 
the  Dnieper  and  the  Black  Sea.  These  barges  went  strongly 
armed  as  a  protection  against  the  barbarians  who  crowded  the 
banks  of  the  river.  The  stream,  being  thus  the  great  thor- 
oughfare of  commerce,  received  the  popular  name  of  The 
Road  to  Greece.  The  Russians  exported  rich  furs  in  exchange 
for  the  cloths  and  spices  of  the  East.  As  the  Russian  power 
extended  toward  the  rising  sun,  the  Volga  and  the  Caspian 
Sea  became  the  highways  of  a  prosperous,  tliough  an  mter- 
rupted,  commerce.  It  makes  the  soul  melancholy  to  reflect 
upon  these  long,  long  ages  of  rapine,  destruction  and  woe. 
But  for  this,  had  man  been  true  to  himself,  tlie  whole  of  Rus- 
sia might  now  have  been  almost  a  garden  of  Eden,  with  every 
marsh  drained,  every  stream  bridged,  every  iield  waving  with 
luxuriance,  every  deformity  changed  into  an  object  of  beauty, 
with  roads  and  canals  intersecting  every  mile  of  its  territory, 
with  gorgeous  cities  embellishing  the  rivers'  banks  and  the 
mountain  sides,  and  cottages  smiling  upon  every  plain.  Man 
has  no  foe  to  his  happiness  so  virulent  and  deadly  as  his 
brother  man.     The  heaviest  curse  is  human  depravity. 

We  now  approach,  in  the  early  part  of  the  thirteenth  cen- 
tury, one  of  the  most  extraordinary  events  which  has  occurred 
in  the  history  of  man  :  the  sweep  of  Tartar  hordes  over  all  of 
northern  Asia  and  Europe,  under  their  indomitable  leader, 
Genghis  Khan. 

In  the  extreme  north  of  tlie  Chinese  empire,  just  south  of 
Irkoutsk,  in  the  midst  of  desert  wilds,  unknown  to  Greek  or 
Roman,  there  were  wandering  tribes  called  Mogols.  Tliey 
were  a  savage,  vagabond  race,  witliout  any  lixcd  liabitations, 
living  by  the  chase  and  by  herding  cattle.  The  chief  of  one 
of  these  tribes,  greedy  of  renown  and  power,  conquered  sev- 
eral of  the  adjacent  tribes,  and  brought  them  into  very  willing 
subjection  to  his  sway.  War  was  a  pastime  for  their  fierce 
spirits,  and  their  bold  chief  led  them  to  victory  and  abundant 
booty.     This  barbarian  conqueror,  Bayadour  by  name,  died 


114  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

in  the  prime  of  life,  surrendering  his  wealth  and  power  to  his 
son,  Temoutchin,  then  but  thirteen  years  of  age.  This  boy 
thus  found  liimself  lord  of  forty  thousand  families.  Still  he 
was  but  a  subordinate  prince  or  khan,  owing  allegiance  to  the 
Tartar  sovereign  of  northern  China.  Brought  up  by  his 
mother  in  the  savage  simplicity  of  a  wandering  shepherd's 
hut,  he  developed  a  character  which  made  him  the  scourge  of 
the  world,  and  one  of  its  most  appalling  wonders.  The  most 
illustrious  monarchies  were  overturned  by  the  force  of  his 
arms,  and  millions  of  men  were  brought  into  subjection  to 
his  power. 

At  the  death  of  his  lather,  Bayadour,  many  of  the  subju- 
gated clans  endeavored  to  break  the  yoke  of  the  boy  prince. 
Temoutchin,  with  the  vigor  and  military  sagacity  of  a  veteran 
warrior,  assembled  an  army  of  thirty  thousand  men,  defeated 
the  rebels,  and  plunged  their  leaders,  seventy  in  number,  each 
into  a  caldron  of  boiling  waller.  Elated  by  such  brilliant  suc- 
cess, the  young  prince  renounced  allegiance  to  the  Tartar  sov- 
ereign and  assumed  independence.  Terrifying  his  enemies 
by  severity,  rewarding  his  friends  with  rich  gifts,  and  over- 
awing the  populace  by  claims  of  supernatural  powers,  this 
extraordinary  young  man  commenced  a  career  of  conquest 
which  the  world  has  never  seen  surpassed. 

Assembling  his  ferocious  hordes,  now  enthusiastically  de- 
voted to  his  service,  upon  the  banks  of  a, rapid  river,  he  took 
a  solemn  oath  to  share  with  them  all  the  bitter  and  the  sweet 
which  he  should  encounter  in  the  course  of  his  life.  The 
neighboring  piince  of  Kerait  ventured  to  draw  the  sword 
against  him.  He  forfeited  his  head  for  his  audacity,  and  his 
skull,  trimmed  with  silver,  was  converted  into  a  drinking  cup. 
At  the  close  of  this  expedition,  his  vast  army  were  disposed 
ill  nine  different  camps,  upon  the  lioad  waters  of  the  river 
Amour.  Each  division  had  tents  of  a  particular  color.  On  a 
festival  day,  as  all  were  gazing  with  admiration  upon  their 
youtlifiil  leadei-,  a  hermit,  by  previous  secret  aj)p()intmont,  ap- 


TUE     INVASION     OF     GENGHIS     KHAN.  115 

pearcd  as  a  prophet  from  heaven.  Approaching  the  prince, 
the  pretended  embassador  from  the  celestial  court,  declared, 
in  a  loud  voice, 

"  God  has  given  the  whole  earth  to  Temoutchin,  As  the 
sovereign  of  the  world,  he  is  entitled  to  the  name  of  Genghis 
Khan  {the  great  prince).'''' 

No  one  was  disposed  to  question  the  divine  authority  of 
this  envoy  from  the  skies.  Shouts  of  applause  rent  the  air, 
and  chiefs  and  warriors,  with  unanimous  voice,  expressed  their 
eagerness  to  follow  their  leader  wherever  he  might  guide  them. 
Admiration  of  his  ])rowcss  and  the  terror  of  his  arms  spread 
far  and  wide,  and  embassadoi's  thronged  his  tent  from  adja- 
cent nations,  wishing  to  range  themselves  beneath  his  banners. 
Even  the  monarch  of  Thibet,  overawed,  sent  messengers  to 
offer  his  service  as  a  vassal  prince  to  Genghis  Khan. 

The  conqueror  now  made  an  irruption  into  China  proper, 
and  with  his  wolfish  legions,  clambering  the  Avorld-renowned 
wall,  routed  all  the  armies  raised  to  oppose  him,  and  speedily 
was  master  of  ninety  cities.  Finding  liimself  encumbered 
with  a  crowd  of  prisoners,  he  selected  a  large  number  of  the 
aged  and  choked  them  to  death.  The  sovereign,  thoroughly 
hiuiiiliated,  purchased  peace  by  a  gift  of  iive  hundred  young 
men,  five  hundred  beautiful  girls,  three  thousand  liorses  and 
an  immense  quantity  of  silks  and  gold.  Genghis  Khau  re- 
tired to  the  north  with  his  treasures ;  but  soon  again  re- 
turned, and  laid  siege  to  Pekin,  the  capital  of  the  empire. 
With  the  energies  of  despair,  though  all  unavailingly,  the  iu- 
Jiabitants  attempted  their  defense.  It  was  the  year  1215 
when  Pekin  fell  betbre  the  arms  of  the  Mogol  conqueror. 
The  whole  city  was  immediately  committed  to  flames,  and 
the  wasting  conflagration  raged  for  a  whole  month,  when 
nothing  was  left  of  tlie  once  beautiful  and  poi)ulous  city  but 
a  heap  of  ashes. 

Leaving  troops  in  garrison  throughout  the  subjugated 
country,  the  conqueror  coramcnced  his  march  towards  tlie 


116  THE      EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

Avest,  laden  with  tlie  spoils  of  plundered  cities.  Like  the 
rush  of  a  torrent,  his  armies  swejDt  along  until  they  entered 
the  vast  wilds  of  Turkomania.  Here  the  "  great  and  the 
mighty  Saladin"  had  reigned,  extending  his  sway  from  the 
Caspian  Sea  to  the  Ganges,  dictating  laws  even  to  the  Caliph 
at  Bagdad,  Avho  was  the  Pope  of  the  Mohammedans.  Ma- 
homet II.  now  held  the  throne,  a  prince  so  haughty  and  war- 
like, that  he  arrogated  the  name  of  the  second  Alexander  the 
Great.  With  two  such  spirits  heading  their  armies,  a  hor- 
rible war  ensued.  The  capital  of  this  region,  Bokhara,  had 
attained  a  very  considerable  degree  of  civilization,  and  was 
renowned  for  its  university,  where  the  Mohammedan  youth, 
of  noble  families,  were  educated.  The  city,  after  an  unavail- 
ing attempt  at  defense,  was  compelled  to  capitulate.  The 
elders  of  the  metropolis  brought  the  keys  and  laid  them  at 
the  feet  of  the  conqueror.  Genghis  Khan  rode  contemptu- 
ously on  horseback  into  the  sacred  mosque,  and  seizing  the 
Alcoran  from  the  altar,  threw  it  upon  the  floor  and  trampled 
it  beneath  the  hoofs  of  his  steed.  The  whole  city  was  in- 
humanly reduced  to  ashes. 

From  Bokhara  he  advanced  to  Samarcande.  This  city 
was  strongly  fortified,  and  contained  a  hundred  thousand 
soldiers  within  its  walls,  besides  an  immense  number  of  ele- 
phants trained  to  tight.  The  city  was  soon  taken.  Thirty 
thousand  Avere  slain,  and  thirty  thousand  carried  into  per- 
petual slavery.  All  the  adjacent  cities  soon  shared  a  similar 
fate.  For  three  years  the  armies  of  Genghis  Khan  ravaged 
the  whole  country  between  the  Aral  lake  and  the  Indus,  with 
such  fearful  devastation  that  for  six  huiulretl  years  the  re- 
gion did  not  recover  from  the  calamity.  Maliomet  II.,  pur- 
sued by  his  indefatigable  foe,  fled  to  one  of  the  islands  of  the 
Caspian  Sea,  Avhere  he  perished  in  paroxysms  of  j-age  and 
despair. 

Genghis  Khan  having  thoroughly  subdued  this  whole  re- 
gion, now  sent  a  division  of  his  army,  under  two  of  his  most 


THE      IJfVASION     OF     GEXGIIIS      KHAN.         117 

distinguished  generals,  across  the  Caspian  Sea  to  subjugate 
the  regions  on  the  western  sliore.  Here,  as  before,  victory 
aecoinpanied  their  standards,  and,  with  merciless  severity, 
they  swept  the  whole  country  to  the  sea  of  Azof  The  tid- 
ings of  their  advance,  so  bloody,  so  resistless,  spread  into 
Russia,  exciting  universal  terror.  The  conquerors,  elated 
Avith  success,  rushed  on  over  the  plains  of  Russia,  and  were 
already  pouring  down  into  the  valley  of  the  Dnieper,  Mstis- 
laf,  jirince  of  Galitch,  already  so  renowned  for  his  warlike 
exploits,  was  eager  to  measure  arms  with  those  soldiers,  the 
terror  of  whose  ravages  now  filled  the  world.  He  hurriedly 
assembled  all  the  neighboring  princes  at  Kief,  and  urged 
immediate  and  vigorous  cooperation  to  repel  the  common  foe. 
The  Russian  army  was  promptly  rendezvoused  on  the  banks 
of  the  Dnieper,  preparatory  to  its  march.  Another  large 
army  was  collected  by  the  Russian  princes  who  inhabited  the 
valley  of  the  Dniester.  In  a  thousand  barges  they  descended 
the  river  to  the  Black  Sea.  Then  entering  the  Dnieper  they 
ascended  the  stream  to  unite  with  the  main  army  waiting  im- 
patiently their  arrival. 

On  the  21st  of  May,  the  whole  force  was  put  in  motion, 
and  after  a  march  of  nine  days,  met  the  Tartar  army  on  the 
banks  of  the  river  Kalets.  The  waving  banners  and  the 
steeds  of  the  Tartar  host,  covering  the  plains  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  extend,  in  numbers  apparently  countless,  presented  an 
appalling  spectacle.  Many  of  the  Russian  leaders  were  quite 
in  despair ;  others,  young,  ardent,  inexj^erienced,  were  eager 
for  the  fight.  The  battle  immediately  commenced,  and  the 
combatants  fought  with  all  the  ferocity  which  human  enei-- 
gies  could  engender.  But  the  Russians  were,  in  the  end, 
routed  entirely.  The  Tartars  drove  the  bleeding  fugitives  in 
wild  confusion  before  them  back  to  the  Dnieper.  Never 
before  had  Russia  encountered  so  frightful  a  disaster.  Tiie 
whole  army  was  destroyed.  Not  one  tenth  of  their  number 
escaped  that  field  of  massacre.     Seven  princes,  and  seventy 


118  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

of  the  most  illustrious  nobles  were  among  the  slain.  The 
Tartars  followed  up  their  victory  witli  their  accustomed  in- 
humanity, and,  as  if  it  were  their  intention  to  depopulate  the 
country,  swept  it  in  all  directions,  putting  the  inhabitants  in- 
discriminately to  the  sword.  Tiiey  acted  upon  the  maxim 
wliich  they  ever  proclaimed,  "  The  conquered  can  never  be 
tlie  friends  of  the  conquerors  ;  and  the  death  of  the  one  is 
essential  to  the  safety  of  the  other." 

The  whole  of  southern  Russia  trembled  with  terror  ;  and 
men,  women  and  children,  in  utter  helplessness,  with  groans 
and  cries  lied  to  the  churches,  imploring  the  protection  of 
God.  That  divine  power  which  alone  could  aid  them,  inter- 
posed in  their  behalf.  For  some  unknown  reason,  Genghis 
Khan  recalled  his  troojjs  to  the  shores  of  the  Caspian,  where 
this  blood-stained  conqueror,  in  the  midst  of  his  invincible 
armies,  dictated  laws  to  the  vast  regions  he  had  subjected  to 
Ills  will.  This  frightful  storm  having  left  utter  desolation  be- 
hind it,  passed  away  as  rapidly  as  it  had  ap])roached.  Scathed 
as  by  the  lightnings  of  heaven,  the  whole  of  southern  Rus- 
sia east  of  the  Dnieper  was  left  smoking  like  a  furnace. 

The  nominal  king,  Georges  II.,  far  distant  in  the  northern 
realms  of  Souzdal  and  Vladimir,  listened  .appalled  to  the  re- 
ports of  the  tempest  raging  over  the  southern  portion  of  the 
kingdom ;  and  when  the  dark  cloud  disappeared  and  its 
thunders  ceased,  he  congratulated  himself  in  having  escaped 
its  fury.  After  the  terrible  battle  of  Kalka,  six  years  passed 
before  the  locust  legions  of  the  Tartars  again  made  tlieir 
appearance  ;  and  Russia  hoped  that  the  scourge  had  disap- 
peared for  ever.  In  the  year  1227,  Gengliis  Khan  died.  It 
has  been  estimated  that  the  ambition  of  this  one  man  cost  the 
lives  of  between  five  and  six  millions  of  the  human  iimiily. 
lie  nominated  as  his  successor  his  oldest  son  Octal,  and  en- 
joined it  upon  liim  never  to  make  peace  but  with  vanquished 
nations.  Ambitious  of  being  the  conqueror  of  the  world, 
Octai  ravatred  with  his  armies  the  wliole  of  nortliern  China. 


THE     INVASION     OF     GENGHIS     KHAN.        119 

In  the  heart  of  Tartavy  he  reared  his  palace,  embellished  with 
the  highest  attainments  of  Chinese  art. 

Raising  an  army  of  three  hundred  thousand  men,  the 
Tartar  sovereign  placed  his  nephew  Bati  in  command,  and 
ordered  him  to  bring  into  subjection  all  the  nations  on  the 
northern  shores  of  the  Caspian  Sea,  and  then  to  continue  his 
conquests  throughout  all  the  expanse  of  northern  Russia.  A 
bloody  strife  of  three  years  planted  his  banners  upon  every 
cliff"  and  through  all  the  defiles  of  the  Ural  mountains,  and 
then  the  victor  i»lunging  down  the  western  declivities  of  this 
great  natural  barrier  between  Europe  and  Asia,  established 
his  troops,  for  winter  quarters,  in  the  valley  of  the  Volga.  To 
strike  the  region  with  terror,  he  burned  the  capital  city  of 
Bulgaria  and  put  all  the  inhabitants  to  the  sword.  Early  in 
the  sj)ring  of  tlie  year  1238,  with  an  army,  say  the  ancient  an- 
nalists, "  as  innumerable  as  locusts,"  he  crossed  the  Volga,  and 
threading  many  almost  impenetrable  forests,  after  a  march,  in 
a  north-west  direction,  of  about  four  hundred  miles,  entered 
the  province  of  Rezdan  just  south  of  Souzdal.  He  then  sent 
an  embassage  to  the  king  and  his  confederate  princes,  saying : 

"  If  you  wish  for  peace  with  the  Tartars  you  must  pay  us 
an  annual  ti'ibute  of  one  tenth  of  your  possessions." 

The  heroic  reply  was  returned, 

"  When  you  have  slain  us  all,  you  can  then  take  all  that 
we  have." 

Bati,  at  the  head  of  his  terrible  army,  continued  his  march 
through  the  populous  province  of  Rezdan,  burning  every  dwell- 
ing and  endeavoring,  with  indiscriminate  massacre,  to  exterm- 
inate the  inhabitants.  City  after  city  fell  before  them  until 
they  approached  the  capital.  This  they  besieged,  iirst  sur- 
rounding it  with  palisades  that  it  might  not  be  possible  for 
any  of  the  inhabitants  to  escape.  The  innumerable  host 
pressed  the  siege  day  and  night,  not  allowing  the  defenders 
one  moment  for  repose.  On  the  sixteenth  day,  after  many 
had  been  slain  and  all  the  citizens  were  in  utter  exhaustion 


120  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

irora  toil  and  sleeplessness,  tliey  commenced  the  final  assault 
with  ladders  and  battering  rams.  The  walls  of  wood  were 
soon  set  on  fire,  and,  through  flame  and  smoke,  the  demo- 
niac assailants  rushed  into  the  city.  Indiscriminate  massacre 
ensued  of  men,  women  and  children,  accompanied  with  the 
most  revolting  cruelty.  The  carnage  continued  for  many 
hours,  and,  when  it  ceased,  the  city  was  reduced  to  ashes,  and 
not  one  of  its  inhabitants  was  left  alive. 

The  conquerors  then  rushed  on  to  Moscow.  Here  the  tem- 
pest of  battle  raged  for  a  few  days,  and  then  Moscow  followed 
in  the  footsteps  of  Rezdau. 


CHAPTER    VII. 

THE     SWAY     OF     THE     TARTAR     PRINCES. 
From  1238  to  1304. 

Eeteeat  op  Georges  II. — Desolating  March  op  the  Tartars. — Capture  of  Vla- 
DiMtB. — Fall  of  Moscow. — Uttek  Dkfkat  of  Georges. — Conflict  at  Toiwek. — 
March  of  the  Tartars  toward  the  South. — Suujugation  of  the  Polovtsl^ 
Capture  OK  Kief. —Humiliation  OF  Yaroslaf — Overthrow  op  the  Russian  King- 
uo.M. — Haughtiness  of  the  Tartars. — Reign  of  Alexander. — Succession  of  Ya- 
roslaf.—The  Reign  op  Vabsull— State  of  Christianity.— Infamy  op  Andre. 
— Struggles  with  Dmitel — Independence  of  the  Principalities. — De.vtii  op 
Andre. 

n^HE  king,  Georges,  fled  from  Moscow  before  it  was  invested 
-I  by  the  enemy,  leaving  its  defense  to  two  of  his  sons.  Re- 
tiring, in  a  panic,  to  the  remote  northern  province  of  Yarosbxf, 
lie  encamped,  with  a  small  force,  upon  one  of  the  tributaries 
of  theMologa,  and  sent  earnest  entreaties  to  numerous  princes 
to  ha.sten,  with  all  the  forces  they  could  raise,  and  juin  his 
army. 

The  Tartars  from  Moscow  marched  north-west  some  one 
liundred  and  fifty  miles  to  the  imperial  city  of  Vladimir. 
They  a[»peared  before  its  walls  on  the  2d  of  February.  On 
the  evening  of  the  6th  the  battering  rams  and  ladders  were 
prepared,  and  it  was  evident  that  the  storming  of  the  city 
was  soon  to  begin.  The  citizens,  conscious  that  nothing 
awaited  them  but  death  or  endli'ss  slavery,  with  one  accord 
resolved  to  sell  their  lives  as  dearly  as  possible.  Accompanied 
by  their  wives  and  tlieii-  cliildreii,  they  assemblfd  in  the 
churches,  partook  of  the  saeraineiit  of  the  Lord's  Supper, 
implored   Heaven's  blessing  ujk)!!  them,  and  then  husbands, 


122  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

brothers,  fathers,  took  afiecting  leave  of  their  families  and 
rejjaired  to  the  walls  for  the  deadly  strife. 

Early  on  the  morning  of  the  7th  the  assault  commenced. 
The  impetuosity  of  the  onset  was  irresistible.  In  a  few  mo- 
ments the  walls  were  scaled,  the  streets  flooded  with  the  foe, 
the  pavements  covered  with  the  dead,  and  the  city  on  fire 
in  an  hundred  places.  The  conquerors  did  not  wish  to  en- 
cumber themselves  with  captives.  All  were  slain.  Laden 
with  booty  and  crimsoned  with  the  blood  of  their  foes,  the 
victors  dispersed  in  every  direction,  burning  and  destroying, 
but  encountering  no  resistance.  During  the  mouth  they 
took  fourteen  cities,  slaying  all  the  inhabitants  but  such  as 
they  reserved  for  slaves. 

The  monarch,  Georges,  was  still  upon  the  banks  of  the 
Site,  near  where  it  empties  into  the  Mologa,  when  he  heard 
the  tidings  of  the  destruction  of  Moscow  and  Vlatlimir,  and 
of  the  massacre  of  his  wife  and  his  chilJreii.  His  eyes  filled 
with  tears,  and  in  the  anguish  of  his  spirit  he  prayed  that  God 
would  enable  him  to  exemplify  the  patience  of  Job.  Adver- 
sity develops  tlie  energies  of  noble  spirits.  Georges  rallied 
his  troops  and  made  a  desperate  onset  upon  the  foe  as  they 
approached  his  camp.  It  was  the  morning  of  the  4tli  of 
March,  But  again  the  battle  was  disastrous  to  Russia.  Mogol 
numbers  triumphed  over  Russi;m  valor,  and  the  king  and 
nearly  all  his  army  were  slain.  Some  days  after  the  battle  the 
bishop  of  Rostof  traversed  the  field,  covei'ed  with  tlie  bodies 
of  the  dead.  There  he  discovered  the  corpse  of  the  monarch, 
whicli  he  recognized  by  the  clothes.  The  head  had  been 
severed  from  the  body.  Tlie  l)isho[)  rciiioved  the  gory  trunk 
of  the  prince  and  gave  it  respectful  burial  in  the  church  of 
Ncjtre  Dame  at  Rostof.  The  lu-ad  was  siiljSL'qiiently  found 
and  deposited  in  the  culHn  with  the  body. 

The  conquerors,  continuing  their  march  westerly  one  lum- 
dred  and  fifty  miles,  binning  and  destroying  as  they  went, 
reached  the  populous  city  of  Torjek.     Tlie  despairing  inhab- 


THE      SWAT      OF     THE     T  A  It  T  A  R      P  R  I  X  C  E  S  .       123 

itants  for  fitlct'ii  days  beat  oft"  the  assailants.  The  city  tiien 
fell;  its  ruin  was  entire.  The  dwellings  became  but  the  finie- 
ral  pyres  for  tlie  bodies  of  the  slain.  The  army  of  Bati  then 
contiuued  its  march  to  lake  Seliger,  the  source  of  tlie  Volga, 
within  one  hundred  miles  of  the  great  city  of  Novgorod. 

"Villages  disappeai'ed,"  write  the  ancient  annalists,  "and 
the  heads  of  tlie  Russians  fell  under  the  swords  of  the  Tartars 
as  the  grass  falls  before  the  scythe." 

Instead  of  pressing  on  to  Novgorod,  for  some  unknown 
reason  Bati  turned  south,  and,  marching  two  hundred  miles, 
laid  siege  to  the  strong  fortress  of  Kozelsk,  in  the  |)rinciiiality' 
of  Kalouga.  The  garrison,  warned  of  the  advance  of  the  toe, 
made  the  most  heroic  resistance.  For  four  weeks  they  held 
their  assailants  at  bay,  bafHing  every  eft'ort  of  the  vast  num- 
bers who  eneom[)assed  them.  A  more  determined  and  heroic 
defense  was  never  made.  At  last  the  fortress  fell,  and  not 
one  soul  escaped  the  exterminating  sword.  Bati,  now  satiated 
with  carnage,  retired,  with  liis  army,  to  the  banks  of  the  Don, 
Yaroslaf,  prince  of  Kief,  and  brother  of  Georges  II.,  hoping 
that  the  dreadful  storm  had  2'assed  away,  hastened  to  the 
smouldering  ruins  of  Vladimir  to  take  the  title  and  the  shad- 
owy autlujrity  of  Grand  Prince.  Never  before  were  more 
conspicuously  seen  the  energies  of  a  noble  soul.  At  lirst  it 
seemed  that  his  reign  could  be  extended  only  over  gory 
corpses  and  smouldering  ruins.  Undismayed  by  the  magni- 
tude of  the  disaster,  he  consecrated  all  the  activity  of  his 
genius  and  the  loftiness  of  his  spirit  to  the  regeneration  of 
the  desolated  land. 

In  the  spacious  valleys  of  the  Don  and  its  tributaries  lived 
tlie  jiowcrfiil  nation  of  the  Polovtsi,  who  had  often  bid  de- 
fiance to  the  whole  strength  of  Russia.  Kothian,  their  ])iiiice, 
for  a  short  time  made  vigorous  opposition  to  the  march  of  the 
conquerors.  But,  overwhelmed  by  numbers,  he  was  at  length 
compelled  to  retreat,  and,  with  his  army  of  forty  thousand 
men,  to  seek  a  refuge  in  Hungary.    The  country  of  the  Rolov- 


124  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

tsi  was  then  abandoned  to  tlie  Tartars.  Having  ravaged  the 
central  valleys  of  the  Don  and  the  Volga,  these  demoniac 
wan-iors  turned  tlieir  steps  again  into  southern  Russia.  The 
inhabitants,  frantic  with  terror,  fled  from  their  line  of  mai'ch 
as  lambs  fly  from  wolves.  The  blasts  of  their  trumpets  and 
the  clatter  of  their  horses'  hoofs  were  speedily  resounding  in 
the  valley  of  the  Dnieper.  Soon  from  tlie  steeples  of  Kief 
the  banners  of  the  terrible  army  were  seen  approaching  from 
the  east.  They  crossed  the  Dnieper  and  surrounded  the  im- 
perial city,  which,  for  some  time  anticiiialing  the  storm,  had 
been  making  preparation  for  the  most  desperate  resistance. 
The  ancient  annalists  say  that  the  noise  of  their  innumerable 
chariots,  the  lowing  of  camels  and  of  the  vast  herds  of  cattle 
which  accompanied  their  march,  the  neighing  of  horses  and 
the  ferocious  cries  of  the  barbarians,  created  such  a  clamor 
that  no  ordhiary  voice  could  be  heard  in  the  heart  of  the 
city. 

The  attack  was  s]»eedily  commenced,  and  the  walls  were 
assailed  with  all  the  then-known  instruments  of  war.  Day 
and  night,  without  a  moment's  intermission,  the  besiegers, 
like  incarnate  tiends,  jilied  their  works.  The  Tartars,  as  ever, 
were  victorious,  and  Kief,  witli  all  its  thronging  population 
and  all  its  treasures  of  weaUh,  architecture  and  ai't,  sank  in  an 
abyss  of  flame  and  blood.  It  sank  to  rise  no  more.  Though 
it  has  since  been  partially  rebuilt,  this  ancient  capital  of  the 
grand  princes  of  Russia,  even  now  presents  but  the  shadow 
of  its  pristine  splendor. 

Onward,  still  onward,  was  the  cry  of  the  barbarians. 

Leaving  smoking  brands  and  half-burnt  corpses  where  the 
im[)erial  city  once  stood,  the  insatiable  I>ati  pressed  on  hun- 
dreds of  miles  further  west,  assailing,  storming,  destroying 
the  provinces  of  Gallicia  as  far  as  southern  Vladimir  within 
a  few  leagues  of  the  frontiers  of  Poland.  Russia  being  thus 
entii'ely  devastated  and  at  the  feet  of  the  contjuerors,  Bati 
wheeled  his  army  around  toward   the  soutli  and    descended 


THE     SWAT      OF      THE     TAKTAR     PRINCES.       125 

into   Hiuigaiy.     Xovgorod  was   almost   the   only  important 
city  in  Kiussia  which  escaped  the  ravages  of  this  terrible  foe. 

Bati  continued  his  career  of  conquest,  and,  in  1245,  was 
almost  undisputed  master  of  Russia,  of  many  of  the  Polish 
provinces,  of  Hungary,  Croatia,  Servia,  Bulgaria  on  the  Dan- 
ube, Moldavia  and  Wallachia.  He  then  returned  to  the  Volga 
and  established  himself  there  as  permanent  monarch  over  all 
these  subjugated  realms.  No  one  dared  to  resist  him.  Bati 
sent  a  haughty  message  to  the  Grand  Prince  Yaroslaf  at  north- 
ern Vladimir,  ordering  him  to  come  to  his  camp  on  the  distant 
Volga.  Yaroslaf,  in  the  position  in  which  he  found  himself — 
Russia  being  exhausted,  depopulated,  covered  with  ruins  and 
with  graves — did  not  dare  disobey.  Accompanied  by  sev- 
eral of  his  nobles,  he  took  the  weary  journey,  and  humbly 
presented  himself  in  the  tent  of  the  conqueror.  Bati  com- 
pelled the  humiliated  j^riuce  to  send  his  young  son,  Con- 
stantin,  to  Tartary,  to  the  palace  of  the  grand  khan  Octal,  who 
was  about  to  celebrate,  with  his  chiefs,  the  biilliant  conquests 
his  army  had  made  in  China  and  Europe.  If  the  statements 
of  the  annalists  of  those  days  may  be  credited,  so  sumptuous 
a  fete  the  world  had  never  seen  before.  The  guests,  assem- 
bled in  the  metropolis  of  the  kliau,  were  innumerable.  Ya- 
roslaf was  compelled  to  promise  allegiance  to  the  Tartar 
chieftain,  and  all  the  other  Russian  princes,  who  had  survived 
the  general  slaughter,  were  also  forced  to  pay  homage  and 
tribute  to  Bati. 

After  two  years,  the  young  prince,  Constantin,  returned 
from  Tartary,  and  then  Yaroslaf  himself  was  ordered,  with  all 
his  lelatives,  to  go  to  the  capital  of  this  barbaric  empire  on 
tlie  banks  of  the  Amour,  where  the  Tartar  chiefs  were  to  meet 
to  choose  a  successor  to  Octal,  who  had  recently  died.  With 
tears  the  unhappy  jjrince  bade  adieu  to  his  country,  and,  tra- 
versing vast  deserts  and  immense  regions  of  hills  and  valleys, 
he  at  length  reached  the  metropolis  of  his  cruel  masters. 
Here  he  successfully  defended  himself  against  some  accusa- 


12.^       .    .  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

tions  wliich  had  been  brought  against  him,  and,  after  a  deten- 
tion of  several  months,  he  Mas  permitted  to  set  out  on  his 
return.  He  had  proceeded  but  a  ihw  hundred  miles  on  the 
weary  journey  when  he  was  taken  sick,  and  died  the  20th  of 
September,  1246.  The  faithful  nobles  who  accompanied  him 
bore  his  remains  to  Vladimir,  where  they  were  interred. 

There  was  no  longer  a  Russian  kingdom.  The  country  had 
lost  its  independence ;  and  the  Tartar  sway,  rude,  vaciUating 
and  awfully  cruel,  extended  from  remote  China  to  the  shores 
of  the  Baltic.  Tlie  Roman,  Grecian  and  Russian  empires 
thus  crumbling,  the  world  was  threatened  with  an  universal 
inundation  of  barbarism.  Russian  princes,  with  more  or  less 
power  ruled  over  the  serfs  who  tilled  tlieir  lands,  but  there 
was  no  recognized  head  of  the  once  })Owerful  kingdom,  and 
no  Russian  prince  ventured  to  disobey  the  commands  even 
of  the  humblest  captain  of  the  Tartar  hordes. 

While  afiairs  were  in  this  deplorable  state,  a  Russian 
prince,  Daniel,  of  Gallicia,  engaged  secretly,  but  with  great 
vigor,  in  the  attempt  to  secure  the  cooperation  of  the  rest  of 
Europe  to  emancipate  Russia  from  the  Tartar  yoke.  Greece, 
overawed  by  the  barbarians,  did  not  dare  to  make  any  hostile 
movement  against  them.  Daniel  turned  to  Rome,  and  prom- 
ised the  pope.  Innocent  TV.,  that  Russia  should  return  to  the 
Roman  church,  and  would  march  under  the  papal  flag  if  the 
pope  would  rouse  Christian  Europe  against  tlie  Tartars. 

Tiie  p(>pe  eagerly  embraced  these  oilers,  pronounced 
Daniel  to  be  King  of  Russia,  and  sent  the  paj)al  legate  to 
ap])oint  Roman  bishops  over  the  Greek  church.  At  the 
same  time  he  wislied  to  crown  Daniel  with  regal  splendor. 

"  1  have  need,"  exclaimed  the  pruice,  "of  an  army,  not  of 
a  crown.  A  crown  is  but  a  childisli  ornament  when  the  yoke 
of  the  barbarian  is  galling  our  necks." 

Daniel  at  length  consented,  for  the  sake  of  its  moral  in- 
fluence, to  be  crowned  king,  and  the  pope  issued  his  letters 
calling  upon  the   liiithful  to  unite   under  the  baimers  of  the 


THE     SWAY      OF     THE     TARTAR     PRINCES.       127 

cross,  to  drive  the  barbarians  from  Europe.  This  union,  how- 
ever, accomplished  but  httle,  as  the  pope  was  only  anxious  to 
bring  tlic  Greek  cliurch  under  the  sway  of  Rome,  and  Daniel 
souglit  only  military  aid  to  expel  the  Tartars;  each  endeavor- 
ing to  sui-render  as  little  and  to  gain  as  much  as  possible. 

One  of  the  Christian  nobles  endeavored  to  persuade  Man- 
gou,  a  Tartar  chieftain,  of  the  superiority  of  the  Christian  re- 
ligion.    The  pagan  replied  ; 

"  We  are  not  ignorant  that  there  is  a  God  ;  and  we  love 
him  with  all  our  heart.  There  are  more  ways  of  salvation 
than  there  are  fingers  on  your  hands.  If  God  has  given  you 
the  Bible,  he  has  given  us  our  wise  men  (Magi).  But  you.  do 
not  obey  the  precepts  of  your  Bible,  while  we  are  ])erfectly 
obedient  to  the  instructions  of  our  Magi,  and  never  think  of 
disputing  their  authority." 

The  pride  of  these  Tartar  conquerors  may  be  inferred 
from  the  following  letter,  sent  by  the  great  khan  to  Louis, 
King  of  France : 

"In  the  name  of  God,  the  all  powerful,  I  command  you. 
King  Louis,  to  be  obedient  to  me.  When  the  will  of  Heaven 
shall  be  accomplished — when  the  universe  shall  have  recognized 
me  as  its  sovereign,  tranquillity  will  then  be  seen  restored  to 
earth.  But  if  you  dare  to  despise  the  decrees  of  God,  and  to 
say  that  your  country  is  remote,  your  mountains  inaccessible, 
and  your  seas  deep  and  wide,  and  that  you  fear  not  my  dis- 
pleasure, then  the  Almighty  will  speedily  show  you  how  ter- 
rible is  my  power." 

After  the  death  of  Yaroslaf,  his  uncle  Alerxander  assumed 
the  sovereignty  of  the  grand  principality.  He  was  a  prince 
of  much  military  renown.  Bati,  who  was  still  encamped 
upon  tlie  baid<s  of  the  Volga,  sent  to  him  a  message  as 
follows  : 

"  Prince  of  Novgorod  :  it  is  well  known  by  you  that  (Jod 
has  subjected  to  our  sway  innumerable  peoples.  If  you  wisli 
to  live  in  tranquillity,  immediately  conje   to  me,  in   my  tent, 


128  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

tliat  you  may  Avitness  the  glory  and  the  grandeur  of  the 
Mogols." 

Alexander  obeyed  with  the  promptness  of  a  slave.  Bati 
received  the  prince  with  great  condescension,  but  commanded 
him  to  continue  his  journey  some  hundreds  of  leagues  further 
to  the  east,  that  he  miglit  pay  homage  to  the  grand  khan  in 
Tartary.  It  was  a  terrible  journey,  beneath  a  blazing  sun, 
over  burning  plains,  whitened  by  the  bones  of  those  who  had 
perished  by  the  way.  Those  dreary  solitudes  had  for  ages 
been  traversed  by  caravans,  and  instead  of  cities  and  villages, 
and  the  hum  of  busy  life,  the  eye  met  only  the  tombs  in  which 
the  dead  mouldered ;  and  the  silence  of  the  grave  oppressed 
the  soul. 

In  the  year  1249,  Alexander  returned  from  his  humiliating 
journey  to  Tartary.  The  khan  was  so  well  satisfied  with  his 
conduct,  that  he  appointed  him  king  of  all  the  realms  of 
southern  Russia.  The  pope,  now  thoroughly  alienated  from 
Daniel,  corresponded  with  Alexander,  entreating  him  to  bring 
the  Greek  church  under  the  supremacy  of  Rome,  and  thus  se- 
cure for  himself  the  protection  and  the  blessing  of  the  tather 
of  all  the  faitliful.     Alexander  returned  the  peremptory  reply, 

"We  wish  to  follow  the  true  doctrines  of  the  church.  As 
for  your  doctrines,  we  have  no  desire  either  to  ado2)t  them  or 
to  know  them." 

Alexander  administered  the  government  so  much  in  ac- 
cordance with  the  will  of  his  haughty  masters,  that  the  khan 
gradually  increased  his  dominion.  Bati,  the  Tartar  chieftain, 
who  was  encamped  with  his  army  on  the  banks  of  the  Volga 
and  the  Don,  died  in  the  year  1257,  and  his  bloody  sword, 
the  only  scepter  of  his  power,  passed  into  the  hands  of  his 
brother  Berki.  Alexander  felt  compelled  to  hasten  to  the 
Tartar  camj),  with  expressions  of  homage  to  the  new  captain, 
and  with  rich  presents  to  conciliate  his  favor.  Many  of  the 
Tartars  had  by  this  time  embraced  Chiistianity,  and  there 
were  frequent  intermarriages  between  the  Russian  nobles  and 


THE     SWAY     OF     TUB     TARTAR     PRINCES.      129 

princesses  of  the  Tartar  race.  It  is  a  curious  fact,  that  even 
then  the  Tartars  were  so  conscious  of  the  power  of  the  clergy 
over  the  popular  niiiul,  that  they  employed  all  the  arts  of 
courtesy  and  bribes  to  secure  their  influence  to  hold  tlie  Rus- 
sians in  subjection. 

The  Tartars  exacted  enormous  tribute  from  the  subjugated 
country.  An  insurrection,  headed  by  a  son  of  Alexander, 
broke  out  at  Xovgorod.  The  grand  prince,  terrified  in  view 
of  the  Mogol  wrath  which  might  be  expected  to  overwhelm 
hira,  arrested  and  imprisoned  his  son,  who  had  countenanced 
the  enterprise,  and  punished  the  nobles  implicated  in  the  move- 
ment with  terrible  severity.  Some  were  hung;  others  had 
their  eyes  plucked  out  and  their  noses  cut  ofl:'.  But,  unap- 
])eased  by  this  fearful  retribution,  the  Tartars  were  imme- 
diately on  the  march  to  avenge,  with  their  own  hands,  the 
crime  of  rebellion.  Their  footsteps  were  marked  with  such 
desolation  and  cruelty  that  the  Russians,  goaded  to  despair, 
again  ventured,  like  the  crushed  worm,  an  impotent  resist- 
ance. Alexander  himself  was  compelled  to  join  the  Tartars, 
and  aid  in  cutting  down  his  wretched  countrymen. 

The  Tartars  haughtily  entered  Novgorod,  Silence  and 
desolation  reigned  through  its  streets.  They  went  from 
house  to  house,  extorting,  as  they  well  knew  how,  treasure 
which  beggared  families  and  ruined  the  city.  Tliroughout 
all  Russia  the  princes  were  compelled  to  break  down  the  walls 
of  their  cities  and  to  demolish  their  fortifications.  In  the 
year  1262,  Alexander  was  alarmed  by  some  indications  of 
displeasure  on  the  part  of  the  grand  khan,  and  he  decided  to 
take  an  immediate  journey  to  the  Mogol  capital  with  rich 
presents,  there  to  attempt  to  explain  away  any  suspicions 
which  might  be  entertained.  His  health  was  feeble,  and  suf- 
fered much  from  the  exposures  of  the  journey.  He  was  de- 
tained in  the  Mogol  court  in  captivity,  though  treated  with 
much  consideration,  for  a  year.  lie  then  returned  home,  so 
crushed  in  health  and  spirits,  that  he  died  on  the  14th  of  No- 


130  THE      EMPIRE      OF      KUSSIA. 

vember,  1263.  The  prince  was  buried  at  Vladimir,  and  was 
borne  to  the  grave  surrounded  by  the  tears  and  Lamentations 
of  his  subjects.  He  seems  to  have  died  the  death  of  the 
righteous,  breatliing  most  fervent  prayers  of  penitence  and  of 
love.  In  the  distressing  situation  in  which  his  country  was 
placed,  he  could  do  nothing  but  seek  to  alleviate  its  woe  ; 
and  to  this  object  he  devoted  all  the  energies  of  his  life.  The 
name  of  Alexander  Nevsky  is  still  pronounced  in  Russia  with 
love  and  admiration.  His  remains,  after  reposing  in  the 
church  of  Notre  Dame,  at  Vladimir,  until  the  eighteenth  cen- 
tury, were  transported,  by  Peter  the  Great,  to  the  banks  of 
the  Neva,  to  give  renown  to  the  capital  which  that  illustrious 
monarch  was  rearing  there. 

Yaroslaf,  of  Tiver,  succeeded  almost  immediately  his  father 
in  the  nominal  sway  of  Russia.  The  new  sovereign  promised 
fealty  to  the  Tartars,  and  feared  no  rival  while  sustained  by 
their  swords.  His  oppression  becoming  intolerable,  the  tocsin 
was  sounded  in  the  streets  of  Novgorod,  and  the  whole  popu- 
lace rose  in  insurrection.  The  movement  was  successful.  The 
favorites  and  advisers  of  Yaroslaf  were  put  to  death,  and  the 
prince  himself  was  exiled.  There  is  something  quite  refreshing 
in  the  energetic  spirit  with  which  the  populace  transmitted 
their  sentence  of  repudiation  to  the  discomtited  piince,  block- 
aded in  his  palace.  The  citizens  met  in  a  vast  gathering  in 
the  church  of  St.  Nicholas,  and  sent  to  him  the  following  act 
of  accusation  : 

"  Why  have  you  seized  tlie  mansion  of  one  of  our  nobles? 
Why  have  you  robbed  others  of  their  money  ?  Why  have 
you  driven  from  Novgorod  strangers  who  were  living  peace- 
ably in  the  midst  of  us?  Why  do  your  game-keepers  exclude 
us  from  the  chase,  and  drive  us  from  our  own  fields?  It  is 
time  to  put  an  end  to  sucli  violence.  Leave  us.  Go  where 
you  please,  but  leave  us,  for  we  shall  choose  another  prince." 

Yaroslaf,  terrified  and  humiliated,  sent  his  son  to  the 
public  assembly   with  the   assurance  that    he  was  ready  to 


THE     SAVAT      OF     T  II  K     TARTAR     PRINCES.        131 

conform  to  all  their  wishes,  if  they  would  return  to  their  cal- 
legiance. 

"  It  is  too  late,"  was  the  reply.  "  Leave  us  immediately, 
or  we  shall  be  exposed  to  the  inconvenience  of  driving  you 
away." 

Yaroslaf  immediately  left  the  city  and  sought  safety  in 
exile.  The  Novgorodians  then  oftered  the  soiled  and  bat- 
tered crown  to  Dmitry,  a  nephew  of  the  deposed  prince. 
But  Dmitry,  fearing  the  vengeance  of  the  Tartais,  re})lied, 
"  I  am  not  willing  to  ascend  a  throne  from  which  you  have 
expelled  my  uncle." 

Yaroslaf  immediately  sent  an  embassador  to  the  encamp- 
ment of  the  Tartars,  -where  they  were  ever  eagerly  waiting 
for  any  enterprise  which  promised  carnage  and  plunder.  The 
embassador,  imploring  their  aid,  said, 

"  The  Novgorodians  are  your  enemies.  They  have  shame- 
fully expelled  Yaroslaf,  and  thus  treated  your  authority  with 
insolence.  They  have  deposed  Yaroslaf,  merely  because  he 
was  faithful  in  collecting  tribute  for  you." 

By  such  a  crisis,  republicanism  was  necessarily  introduced 
in  Novgoiod.  The  people,  destitute  of  a  prince,  and  threat- 
ened by  an  approaching  army,  made  vigorous  eftbrts  for 
resistance.  The  two  armies  soon  met  face  to  face,  and  they 
were  on  tlie  eve  of  a  terrible  battle,  when  the  worthy  metro- 
politan bishop,  Cyrille,  inteiposed  and  succeeded  in  eftecting 
a  treaty  which  arrested  the  flow  of  torrents  of  blood.  The 
Xovgorodians  again  accei)ted  Yaroslaf,  he  making  the  most 
solemn  promises  of  amendment.  The  embassadors  of  the 
Tartar  khan  conducted  Yarsolaf  again  to  the  throne. 

The  Tartars  now  embraced,  almost  simultaneously  and  uni- 
versally, the  Mohammedan  religion,  and  were  inspired  with 
the  most  fanatic  zeal  for  its  extension.  Yaroslaf  retained  his 
throne  only  by  employing  all  possible  means  to  conciliate  the 
Tartars.  He  died  in  the  year  1272,  as  he  was  also  on  his 
return  journey  from  a  visit  to  the  Tartar  couil. 


132  THE     EMPIRE      or     RUSSIA. 

Vassali,  a  younger  brother  of  Yaroslaf,  now  ascended  the 
throne,  establishhig  himself  at  Vladimir.  The  grand  duchy 
of  Lithuania,  extending  over  a  region  of  sixty  thousand  square 
miles,  was  situated  just  north  of  Poland.  Tlie  Tartars,  dis- 
satisfied with  the  Lithuanians,  prepared  an  expedition  against| 
them,  and  marching  with  a  great  army,  compelled  many  of 
the  Russian  princes  to  follow  their  banners.  The  Tarta?-s 
spread  desolation  over  the  whole  tract  of  country  they  tra- 
versed, and  on  their  return  took  a  careful  census  of  the  popu- 
lation of  all  the  principalities  of  Russia,  that  they  might  decide 
upon  the  tribute  to  be  imposed.  The  Russians  were  so  broken 
in  spirit  that  they  submitted  to  all  these  indignities  without  a 
murmur.  Still  there  were  to  be  seen  here  and  there  indica- 
tions of  discontent.  An  ecclesiastical  council  was  held  at 
Vladimir,  in  the  year  1274.  All  the  bishops  of  the  north  of 
Russia  were  assembled  to  rectify  certain  abuses  which  had 
crept  into  the  church.  A  copy  of  the  canons  then  adopted, 
written  upon  parchment,  is  still  preserved  in  the  Russian 
archives. 

"  What  a  chastisement,"  exclaim  the  bishops,  "  have  we 
received  for  our  neglect  of  the  true  principles  of  Christianity ! 
God  has  scattered  us  over  the  whole  surface  of  the  globe. 
Our  cities  have  fallen  into  the  hands  of  the  enemy.  Our 
princes  have  perished  on  the  field  of  battle.  Our  families 
have  been  dragged  into  slavery.  Our  temples  have  become 
the  prey  of  destruction ;  and  every  day  we  groan  more  and 
more  heavily  beneath  the  yoke  which  is  imposed  upon  us." 

It  was  decreed  in  this  council  of  truly  Christian  men,  that, 
as  a  public  expression  of  the  importance  of  a  holy  life,  none 
should  be  introduced  into  the  ranks  of  the  clergy  but  those 
whose  morals  had  been  irreproachable  from  their  earliest 
inf  nicy.  "  A  single  pastor,"  said  the  decree  of  this  council, 
"  faitlifuUy  devoted  to  his  Master's  service,  is  more  precious 
than  a  thousand  worldly  priests." 

Vassali  died  in  the  year  1270,  and  was  succeeded  ])y  a 


THE     SWAY     OF     THE    TARTAR     PRIXCES.       133 

prince  of  Vladimir,  named  Dmitri,  He  immediately  left  his 
native  principality  and  took  up  his  residence  in  Novgorod, 
which  city  at  this  time  seems  to  have  been  regarded  as  the 
capital  of  the  subjugated  and  dishonored  kingdom.  The  in- 
domitable tribes  inhabiting  the  fastnesses  of  the  Caucasian 
mountains  had,  thus  far,  maintained  their  independence.  The 
Tartars  called  upon  Russia  for  troops  to  aid  in  their  subjuga- 
tion;  and  four  of  the  princes,  one  of  whom,  Andre  of  Goro- 
detz,  was  a  brother  of  Dmitri  the  king,  submissively  led  the 
required  army  into  the  Mogol  encampment. 

Andre,  by  his  flattery,  his  presents  and  his  servile  devo- 
tion to  the  interests  of  the  khan,  secured  a  decree  of  de- 
thronement against  his  brother  and  his  own  appointment  as 
grand  prince.  Then,  with  a  combined  army  of  Tartars  and 
Russians,  he  marched  upou  Novgorod  to  take  possession  of 
the  crown.  Resistance  was  not  to  be  thought  of,  and  Dn)itri 
precipitately  fled.  Karamsin  thus  describes  the  sweep  of  tliis 
Tartar  wave  of  woe  : 

"  The  Mogols  pillaged  and  burned  the  houses,  the  monas- 
teries, the  churches,  from  which  they  took  the  images,  ti.e 
precious  vases  and  the  books  richly  bound.  Large  troops  of 
the  inhabitants  were  dragged  into  slavery,  or  full  benealli  tlie 
sabei's  of  the  ferocious  soldiers  of  the  khan.  Tiie  young  sis- 
ters in  the  convents  were  exposed  to  the  brutality  of  these 
monsters.  The  unhappy  laborers,  who,  to  escape  death  or 
captivity,  had  fled  into  the  deserts,  perished  of  exposure  and 
starvation.  Not  an  inhabitant  was  left  who  did  not  weep 
over  the  death  of  a  father,  a  son,  a  brother  or  a  fiieiul." 

Thus  Andre  ascended  the  throne,  and  then  returned  the 
soldiers  of  the  khan  laden  with  the  booty  which  they  had  so 
cruelly  and  iniquitously  obtained.  The  barbarians,  always 
greedy  of  rapine  and  blood,  w^ere  ever  delighted  to  find  oc- 
casion to  ravage  the  principalities  of  Russia.  The  Tartars, 
having  withdrawn,  Dmitri  secured  the  cooperation  of  some 
powerful  princes,  drove  his  brother  from  Novgorod,  and  again 


134  THE     EMPIRK      OF     RUSSIA. 

gi-asped  the  scepter  which  his  brother  had  wrested  from  him. 
The  two  brothers  continued  bitterly  hostile  to  each  other, 
and  years  passed  of  petty  intrigues  and  with  occasional  scenes 
of  violence  and  blood  as  Dmitri  struggled  to  hold  the  crown 
which  Andre  as  perseveringly  strove  to  seize.  Again  Andre 
obtained  another  Mogol  army,  which  swept  Russia  with  fear- 
ful destruction,  and,  taking  possession  of  Vladimir  and  Mos- 
cow, and  every  city  and  village  on  their  way,  i:)lundering,  burn- 
ing and  destroying,  marched  resistlessly  to  Novgorod,  and 
placed  again  the  traitorous,  blood-stained  monster  on  the 
throne. 

Dmitri,  abandoning  his  |)alaces  and  his  treasures,  fled  to  a 
remote  principality,  where  he  soon  died,  in  the  year  1294,  an 
old  man  battered  and  wrecked  by  the  storms  of  a  life  of  woe. 
He  is  celebrated  in  the  Russian  annals  only  by  the  disasters 
which  accompanied  his  reign.  According  to  the  Russian  his- 
torians, the  infamous  Andre,  his  elder  brother  being  now  dead, 
found  himself  legiiwiately  the  sovereign  of  Russia.  As  no 
one  dared  to  dispute  his  authority,  the  ill-fated  kingdom 
passed  a  few  years  in  tranquillity. 

At  length  Daniel,  prince  of  Mosco\v,  claimed  indejjendence 
of  the  nominal  king,  or  grand  prince,  as  he  was  called.  In 
llict,  most  of  the  principalities  were,  at  this  time,  entirely 
independent  of  the  grand  prince  of  Novgorod,  whose  suprem- 
acy was,  in  general,  but  an  empty  and  powerless  title.  As 
Daniel  was  one  of  the  nearest  neighbors  of  Andre,  and  reigned 
over  a  desolate  and  impoverished  realm,  the  grand  prince  was 
disj)osed  to  bring  him  into  subjection.  But  neither  of  the 
princes  dared  to  march  their  armies  without  first  appealing  to 
their  Mogol  masters.  Daniel  sent  an  embassador  to  the  Mo- 
gol camp,  but  Andre  went  in  person  with  his  young  and  beau- 
tiful wife.  The  khan  sent  his  embassador  to  Vladimir,  there 
to  sunnnon  before  him  the  two  princes  and  their  friends  and 
■to  adjudge  their  cause. 

In  the  heat  and  bitterness  of  the  debate,  the  two  princes 


THE     SWAY      OF     THE     TARTAR     PRINCES.       135 

clresv  their  swords  aud  fell  upon  each  other.  Their  followers 
joined  in  the  melee,  and  a  scene  of  tumult  and  blood  ensued 
characteristic  of  those  barbaric  times.  The  Tartar  guard 
rushed  in  and  separated  the  combatants.  The  Tartar  judge 
extorted  rich  presents  from  both  of  the  api^ellants  and  settled 
the  question  by  leaving  it  entirely  unsettled,  ordering  them 
both  to  go  home.  They  separated  like  two  boys  who  have 
been  found  quarreling,  and  who  have  both  been  soundly 
whipped  for  their  pugnacity.  In  the  autumn  of  the  year 
1303  an  assembly  of  the  Russian  princes  was  convened  at  Pe- 
reiaslavle,  to  which  congress  the  imperious  khan  sent  his  com- 
mands. 

"  It  is  my  will,"  said  the  Tartar  chief,  "  that  the  principali- 
ties of  Russia  should  hencetbrth  enjoy  tranquillity.  I  there- 
fore command  all  the  princes  to  put  an  end  to  their  dissen- 
sions and  each  one  to  content  himself  with  the  possessions  and 
the  power  he  now  has." 

Russia  thus  ceased  to  be  even  nominally  a  monarchy, 
unless  we  regard  the  Khan  of  Tartary  as  its  sovereign.  It 
was  a  conglomeration  of  principalities,  ruled  by  princes,  with 
irresponsible  power,  but  all  paying  tribute  to  a  foreign  des- 
pot, and  obliged  to  obey  his  will  whenever  he  saw  fit  to  make 
that  will  known.  Still  there  continued  incessant  tempests  of 
civil  war,  violent  but  of  brief  duration,  to  which  the  khan 
paid  no  attention,  he  deeming  it  beneatli  his  dignity  to  inter- 
meddle with  such  petty  conflicts. 

Andre  died  on  the  27th  July,  1304,  execrated  by  his  co- 
temporaries,  and  he  has  been  consigned  to  infamy  by  posterity. 
As  he  approached  the  spirit  land  he  was  tortured  with  the 
dread  of  the  scenes  which  he  might  encounter  there.  His 
crimes  had  condemned  thousands  to  death  and  other  thou- 
sands to  live-long  woe.  lie  sought  by  j^riestcraft,  aiul  pen- 
ances, and  monastic  vows,  and  garments  of  sackcloth,  to  efface 
the  .stains  of  a  soul  crimsoned  with  crime.  He  died,  an<l  his 
guilty  spirit  passed  away  to  meet  God  in  judgment. 


CHAPTER   VIII. 

RESUERECTION    OP    THE    RUSSIAN    MONARCHY. 
Prom  1304  to  1380. 

Defeat  of  Gf.okges  and  the  Tartars  — Indignation  of  tub  Khan. — Michel  Sum- 
moned TO  THE  Horde. — His  Trial  and  Execution. — Assassination  of  Georres. — • 
Exr,ouTiON  OF  Dmitel — Eepulse  and  Death  of  the  Embassador  of  the  Kuan. — 
Vengeance  of  the  Khan. — Increasing  Prosperity  of  Kussia. — The  Great 
Plague. — Supremacy  op  Simon. — Anarchy  in  the  Horde. — Plaque  and  Con- 
flagration.— The  Tartars  Repulsed. — EECON^iUKST  of  Bulgaria. — The  Great 
Battle  of  Koulikof. — Utter  Rout  of  the  Tartars. 

rnilE  Tartars,  now  fierce  Mohamtnedans,  began  to  oppress 
-L  severely,  particularly  in  Kief,  the  Christians.  The  metro- 
politan bishop  of  this  ancient  city,  with  the  whole  body  of  the 
clergy,  pursued  by  persecution,  fled  to  Vladimir  ;  and  otliers 
of  the  Christians  of  Kief  were  scattered  over  the  kingdom. 

The  death  of  Andre  was  as  Mai  to  Russia  as  had  been 
his  reign.  Two  rival  princes,  Michel  of  Tver,  and  Georges 
of  Moscow,  grasped  at  the  shadow  of  a  scepter  which  had 
fallen  from  his  hands.  In  consequence,  war  and  anarchy  for 
a  long  time  prevailed.  At  length,  Michel,  having  appealed 
to  the  Tartars  and  gained  their  support,  ascended  the  frail 
throne.  But  a  fierce  war  now  raged  between  Novgorod  and 
Moscow.  In  the  ])rosecution  of  this  war,  Georges  obtained 
some  advantage  which  led  Michel  to  appeal  to  the  khan. 
The  j)rince  of  Moscow  was  immediately  summoned  to  appear 
in  the  presence  of  the  Tartar  chieftain.  By  the  most  ignoble 
fawning  and  ])romi.ses  of  plunder,  Georges  obtained  the  sup- 
port of  the  khan,  and  returning  with  a  Tartar  horde,  cruelly 
devastated  the  principality  of  his  foe.  Michel  and  all  liis  sub- 
jects, roused  to  the  highest  pitch  of  indignation,  marched  to 


RESITKRECTION     OP     THE     MONARCHY.  137 

meet  the  enemy.  The  two  armies  encountered  each  other  a 
few  leagues  from  Moscow.  The  followers  of  Michel,  fighting 
with  the  energies  of  despair,  wei"e  unexpectedly  successful, 
and  Georges,  with  his  Russian  and  Tartar  troops,  was  thor- 
oughly defeated. 

Kavgadi,  the  leader  of  the  Tartar  allies  of  Georges,  was 
taken  prisoner.  Michel,  appalled  by  the  thought  of  the 
vengeance  he  might  anticipate  from  the  great  khan,  whose 
power  he  had  thus  ventured  to  defy,  treated  his  captive, 
Kavgadi,  with  the  highest  consideration,  and  immediately 
set  him  at  liberty  loaded  with  presents.  Georges,  accompa- 
nied by  Kavgadi,  repaired  promptly  to  the  court  of  the 
khan,  Usbeck,  who  was  then  encamped,  with  a  numerous 
army,  upon  the  shores  of  the  Caspian  Sea.  Soon  an  embas- 
sador of  the  khan  arrived  at  Vladimir,  and  informed  Michel 
that  Usbeck  was  exasperated  against  him  to  the  highest  de- 
gree. 

"  Hasten,"  said  he,  "to  the  court  of  the  great  khan,  or 
within  a  month  you  will  see  your  provinces  inundated  by  his 
troops.  Think  of  your  peril,  when  Kavgadi  has  informed 
Usbeck  that  you  have  dared  to  resist  his  authority." 

Terrified  by  these  words,  the  nobles  of  Michel  entreated 
him  not  to  place  himself  in  the  power  of  the  khan,  but  to 
allow  some  one  of  them  to  visit  the  horde^  as  it  was  then 
called,  in  his  stead,  and  endeavor  to  appease  the  wrath  of  the 
monarch. 

"Xo,"  replied  the  high-minded  piince  ;  "Usbeck  demands 
my  presence  not  yours.  Far  be  it  iiom  me,  by  my  disobedi- 
ence, to  expose  my  country  to  ruin.  If  I  resist  the  coinniands 
of  the  khnn,  my  country  will  be  doomed  to  new  woes  ;  thou- 
sands of  Chiistians  will  jjeiisli,  the  victims  of  his  fury.  It  is 
impossible  for  us  to  rej)el  the  forces  of  the  Tartars.  What 
other  asylilm  is  there  then  for  me  but  death?  Is  it  not 
better  foi-  me  to  die,  if  I  may  thus  save  the  lives  of  my  faith- 
ful subjects  ?" 


138  THE     E  M  P  I  R  K      O  F     K  U  S  S  I  A  . 

He  inaJi'  liis  will,  divided  his  estates  among  liis  sons,  and 
entreating  them  ever  to  be  faithful  to  the  dictates  of  virtue, 
bade  them  an  eternal  adieu.  Michel  encountered  the  khan 
near  the  mouth  of  the  Don,  as  it  enters  the  Sea  of  Azof. 
Usbeck  was  on  a  magnificent  hunting  excursion,  accompanied 
by  his  chieftains  and  his  army.  For  six  weeks  he  did  not 
deign  to  pay  any  attention  to  the  Russian  i^rince,  not  even 
condescending  to  order  him  to  be  guarded.  The  rich  pres- 
ents Michel  had  brought,  in  token  of  homage,  were  neither 
received  nor  rejected,  but  were  merely  disregarded  as  of  no 
moment  whatever. 

At  length,  one  morning,  suddenly,  as  if  recollecting  some- 
thing which  had  been  forgotten,  Usbeck  ordered  his  lords  to 
summon  Michel  before  them  and  adjudge  his  cause.  A  tent 
was  spread  as  a  tribunal  of  justice,  near  the  tent  of  the  klian  ; 
and  the  unhappy  jjrince,  bound  with  cords,  was  led  before  his 
judges.  Pie  was  accused  of  the  unpardonable  crime  of  having 
drawn  his  sword  against  the  soldiers  of  the  khan.  No  justifi- 
cation could  be  oftered.  Michel  was  cruelly  fettered  with 
chains  and  thrown  into  a  dungeon.  An  enormous  collar  of 
iron  was  riveted  around  his  neck. 

Usbeck  then  set  out  for  the  chase,  on  an  expedition  whicli 
was  to  last  for  one  or  two  months.  The  annals  of  the  time 
describe  this  expedition  with  great  particularity,  jiresenting  a 
scene  of  pomp  almost  surpassing  credence.  Some  allow'ance 
must  doubtless  be  made  for  exaggeraticm  ;  and  yet  there  is  a 
minuteness  of  detail  which,  accompanied  by  corroborative 
evidence  of  the  populousness  and  the  power  of  these  Tartar 
tribes,  invests  the  narrative  with  a  good  degree  of  authen- 
ticity. We  are  informed  that  several  hundreds  of  thousands 
of  men  were  in  movement;  that  each  soldier  was  clothed  in 
lich  uniform  and  mounted  upon  a  beautiful  horse  ;  that  mer- 
chants trans])orted,  in  innumerable  chariots,  the  most  precious 
fabiics  of  Greece  and  of  the  Indies,  and  that  luxury  and 
gayety  reigned  throughout  the  immense  camj),  which,  in  the 


RESURRECTION      OF     THE      MONARCHY.       139 

midst  of  savage  deserts,  presented  the  aspect  of  brilliant  and 
populous  cities.  Michel,  who  was  awaiting  his  sentence  from 
Usbeck,  was  dragged,  loaded  with  chains,  in  the  train  of  the 
horde.  Georgi-s  was  in  high  fovor  with  the  khan,  and  was 
importunately  urging  the  condemnation  of  his  rival. 

With  wonderful  fortitude  the  prince  endured  his  humili- 
ation and  tortures.  The  nobles  who  had  accompanied  him 
were  plunged  into  inconsolable  grief.  Michel  endeavored  to 
solace  them.  He  manifested,  through  the  whole  of  this  ter- 
rible trial,  the  spirit  of  the  Christian,  passing  whole  nights  in 
prayer  and  in  chanting  the  Psalms  of  David.  As  his  hands 
were  bound,  one  of  his  pages  held  the  sacred  book  before 
him.  His  faithful  followers  ui-ged  him  to  take  advantage  of 
the  confusion  and  tumult  of  the  camp  to  effect  his  escape. 
"  Never,"  exclaimed  Michel,  "  will  I  degrade  myself  by  flight. 
Moreover,  should  I  esca])e,  that  would  save  me  only,  not  ray 
country.     God's  will  be  done." 

The  horde  was  now  encamped  among  the  mountains  of 
Circassii.  It  was  the  22d  of  November,  1319,  when,  just 
after  morning  prayers,  which  were  conducted  by  an  abbe  and 
two  priests,  who  accomjianied  the  Russian  ^irince,  Michel  was 
informed  that  Usbeck  had  sentenced  him  to  death.  He  im- 
mediately called  his  young  sou  Constantin,  a  lad  twelve  years 
of  age,  into  his  presence,  and  gave  his  last  directions  to  his 
wife  and  children. 

"Say  to  them,"  enjoined  this  Christian  prince,  "that  I  go 
down  into  the  tomb  cherishing  for  them  the  most  ardent  af 
feclion.  I  recommend  to  their  care  the  generous  nobles,  the 
faithful  servants  who  have  manifested  so  much  zeal  I'oi-  their 
sovereign,  both  when  he  was  ujtou  the  throne  and  when  in 
chains." 

These  tlioughts  of  home  overwhelmed  him,  and,  ^'.iv  a  mo- 
ment losing  his  fortitude,  he  -burst  into  tears.  Causing  the 
Bible  to  be  opened  to  the  Psalms  of  David,  which,  in  all  ages, 
have  been  the  great  fountain  of  consolation  to  the  afflicted, 


140  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

he  read  from  the  fifty-sixth  Psahn,  fifth  verse,  "Fearful- 
ness  and  trembling  are  come  upon  me,  and  horror  hath  over- 
whelmed me." 

"  Prince,"  said  the  abbe,  "  in  the  same  Psalm  with  which 
you  are  so  familiar,  are  the  words,  '  Cast  thy  burden  upon  the 
Lord,  and  he  shall  sustain  thee.  He  shall  never  suffer  the 
righteous  to  be  moved.'  " 

Michel  simply  replied  by  quoting  again  from  the  same  in- 
spired page  :  "  Oh  that  I  had  wings  like  a  dove  ;  for  then 
Avould  I  fiy  away  and  be  at  rest." 

At  that  moment  one  of  the  pages  entered  the  tent,  pale 
and  trembling,  and  informed  that  a  great  crowd  of  people 
were  approaching.  "  I  know  why  tliey  are  coming,"  said  the 
prince,  and  lie  immediately  sent  his  young  son  away  on  a  mes- 
sage, that  the  child  might  not  witness  the  cruel  execution  of 
his  father.  Two  brawny  barbarians  entered  the  tent.  As  the 
prince  was  fervently  praying,  they  smote  him  down  with  clubs, 
trampled  him  beneath  their  feet,  and  then  plunged  a  poignard 
into  his  heart.  Tiie  crowd  which  had  followed  the  execu- 
tioners, according  to  their  custom  rushed  into  the  royal  tent 
for  pillage.  The  gory  body  was  left  in  the  hands  of  the  Rus- 
sian nobles.  They  enveloped  the  remains  in  precious  clothes, 
and  bore  them  with  affectionate  care  back  to  Moscow. 

Georges,  now  confirmed  in  the  dignity  of  grand  prince  by 
the  khan,  returned  to  Vladimir,  where  he  established  his  gov- 
ernment, sending  his  brother  to  Novgorod  to  reign  over  that 
princi})ality  in  his  name.  Dmitri,  and  others  of  the  sons  of 
Michel,  for  several  years  waged  implacable  warfare  against 
Georges,  with  but  little  success.  The  khan,  however,  did  not 
deign  to  interfere  in  a  strife  which  caused  him  no  trouble.  But 
in  the  year  1325  Georges  again  went  to  the  horde  on  the 
eastern  banks  of  the  Caspian.  At  the  same  time,  Dmitri  ap- 
peared in  the  encampment.  Meeting  Geoi'ges  accidentally, 
whom  he  justly  regarded  as  the  murderer  of  his  father,  lie 
diew  his  sword,  and  plunged  it  to  the  hilt  in  the  heart  of  the 


RESURRECTION     OF     THE     MONARCHY.  141 

grand  jtiiiice.  The  khan,  accustomed  to  such  deeds  of  vio- 
lence, ^A'as  not  disposed  to  punish  tlie  son  who  had  thus 
avenged  the  death  of  his  father.  But  the  friends  of  Georges 
so  importunately  urged  that  to  pardon  such  a  crime  would  be 
an  ineffaceable  stain  ujwn  his  honor,  would  be  an  indication 
of  weakness,  and  would  encourage  the  Russian  princes  in  the 
commission  of  other  outrages,  that  after  the  lapse  of  ten 
months,  during  Avhich  time  Dmitri  had  been  detained  a  ca[)- 
tive,  Usbeck  ordered  his  execution,  and  the  unfortunate 
prince  was  beheaded.  Dmitri  was  then  but  twenty-seven 
years  of  age. 

And  yet  Usbeck  seems  to  have  had  some  regard  for  the 
cau^e  of  the  young  prince,  for  he  immediately  appointed 
Alexander,  a  brother  of  Dmitri,  and  son  of  Michel,  to  suc- 
ceed Georges  in  the  grand  principality.  The  Novgorodians 
l)roniptly  received  him  as  their  ruler.  Atlhirs  were  in  this 
.state  when,  at  the  close  of  the  summer  of  1327,  an  embassa- 
dor of  Usbeck  appeared,  with  a  band  of  Tartars,  and  entered 
the  royal  city  of  Tver,  which  was  the  residence  of  Alexander. 
The  principality  of  the  Tver  was  spread  along  the  head  waters 
of  the  Volga,  just  north  of  the  principality  of  Moscow.  The 
report  spread  through  the  city  that  the  Mogol  embassador, 
Schevkal,  wlio  was  a  zealous  Mohammedan,  had  come  to  con- 
vert the  Russians  to  Mohammedanism,  that  he  intended  the 
death  of  Alexandei",  to  ascend  the  throne  himself"  and  to  dis- 
tribute the  cities  of  the  principality  to  his  followers. 

The  Tverians,  in  a  paroxysm  of  terror  and  despair,  rallied 
for  the  support  of  their  prince  and  their  religion.  In  a  torible 
tumult  all  the  inhabitants  rose  and  j^recipated  themselves  upon 
the  embassador  and  his  valiant  body  guard  From  morning 
until  night  the  battle  raged  in  the  streets  of  Tver,  The  Tar- 
tars, overpowered  by  numbers,  and  greatly  weakened  by 
losses  during  the  day,  took  refuge  in  a  i):ilac('.  The  citizens 
set  the  palace  on  fire,  and  every  Tartar  perished,  either  eon- 
sunu'd  by  the  ilames  or  cut  down  by  the  Russians. 


142  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

When  XJsbeck  heard  of"  this  event,  he  was,  at  first,  stupe- 
fied by  the  audacity  of  the  deed.  He  imagined  that  all  Russia 
Avas  in  the  conspiiacy,  and  tliat  there  was  to  be  a  general 
rising  to  throw  off  the  Tartar  yoke.  Still  Usbeck,  with  his 
characteristic  sagacity,  decided  to  employ  the  Russians  to 
subdue  the  Russians.  He  at  once  deposed  and  outlawed 
Alexander,  and  declared  Jean  Danielovilch,  of  Moscow,  to  be 
grand  prince,  who  promised  the  most  obsequious  obedience 
to  his  wishes.  At  the  same  lime  he  sent  an  army  of  fifty 
thousand  Tartars  to  cooperate  with  the  Russian  army,  which 
Jean  Danielovitch  was  commanded  to  put  in  motion  for  the 
invasion  of  the  principality  of  Tver.  It  w.as  in  vain-  to  think 
of  resistance,  and  Alexander  fled.  The  invading  army,  with 
awful  devastation,  ravaged  the  principality.  Multitudes  were 
slain.  Others  were  dragged  into  captivity.  The  smoking 
ruins  of  the  cities  and  villages  of  Tver  became  the  monument 
of  the  wrath  of  the  khan.  Alexander,  pursued  by  the  implaca- 
ble wrath  of  Usbeck,  was  finally  taken  and  beheaded. 

But  i'ew  particulars  are  known  respecting  the  condition  of 
southern  Russia  at  this  time.  The  piincipalities  were  under 
the  government  of  princes  who  wei'e  all  tributary  to  the  Tar- 
tars, and  yet  these  princes  were  incessantly  quarreling  with 
one  anotlier,  and  the  whole  country  was  the  scene  of  violence 
and  blood. 

The  energies  of  the  Tartar  horde  weie  now  engrossed  by 
internal  dissensions  and  oriental  wars,  and  for  many  years,  the 
conquerors  still  drawing  their  annual  tribute  from  the  country, 
but  in  no  other  way  interfering  with  its  concerns,  devoted  all 
their  energies  to  conspiracies  and  bloody  battles  among  them- 
selves. Moscow  now  became  the  capital  of  the  country,  and 
under  the  peaceful  reign  of  Jean,  increased  ra[)idly  in  wealth 
and  s})lendor.  Jean,  acting  professedly  as  the  agent  of  Us- 
beck, extorted  from  many  of  the  principalities  double  tribute, 
one  half  of  which  he  furtively  appropriated  to  the  increase  of 
the  wealth,  splendor  and  ])ower  of  his  own   dominions.      His 


BESURUKCTION      OF     THE     MONARCHY.        143 

reign  was  on  the  whole  one  of  the  most  prosperous  Russia 
had  enjoyed  for  ages.  Agriculture  and  commerce  flourished. 
The  V'-)lga  was  covered  with  boats,  conveying  to  the  Caspian 
tlie  fill--  and  manufactures  of  the  North,  and  laden,  on  their 
ix'turn,  with  the  spices  and  fabrics  of  the  Indies.  On  the  31st 
of  March,  1340,  Jean  died.  As  he  felt  the  approach  of  death 
his  spirit  was  overawed  by  the  realities  of  the  eternal  world. 
Laying  aside  his  regal  robes  he  assumed  the  dress  of  a  monk, 
and  entering  a  monastery,  devoted  his  last  days  zealously  to 
prayer.     His  end  was  peace. 

Immediately  after  his  death  there  wei'e  several  princes 
who  were  ambitious  of  grasping  the  scepter  which  he  had 
dropped,  and,  as  Usbeck  alone  could  settle  that  question, 
there  was  a  general  rush  to  the  horde.  Simeon,  the  eldest 
son  of  Jean,  and  his  brothers,  were  among  the  foremost 
wiiu  pi-esented  themselves  in  the  tent  of  the  all-powerful  khan. 
Simeon  eloquently  urged  the  fidelity  witli  which  his  father 
had  always  served  the  JMogol  prince,  and  he  promised,  in  his 
turn,  to  do  every  thing  in  his  j^ower  to  merit  the  favor  of  the 
khan.  So  successfully  did  he  prosecute  his  suit  that  the  khan 
declared  him  to  be  grand  prince,  and  commanded  all  his  rivals 
to  obey  him  as  their  chief. 

The  manners  of  the  barbarian  Mogols  had,  for  some  time, 
been  assuming  a  marked  change.  They  emerged  from  their 
native  wilds  as  fierce  and  untamed  as  wolves.  The  herds  of 
cattle  they  drove  along  with  them  supplied  them  with  food, 
and  the  skins  of  these  animals  supplied  them  with  clothing 
and  with  tents.  Their  home  was  wherever  they  happened  to 
be  encamped,  but,  having  reached  the  banks  of  the  Black  Sea 
and  the  fertile  valleys  of  the  Volga  and  the  Don,  they  became 
acquainted  with  the  luxuries  of  Europe  and  of  the  more  civ- 
ilized portions  of  Asia,  Commerce  enriched  them.  Lai-ge 
cities  were  erected,  embellished  by  the  genius  of  Grecian  and 
Italian  architects.  Life  became  more  desirable,  and  the 
wealthy  chieftains,  indulging  in  luxury,  were  less  eager  to 


144  THE     E  M  P  I  K  E      OF      RUSSIA. 

encounter  the  exposure  and  perils  of  battle.  The  love  of 
wealth  now  became  with  them  a  ruling  passion.  For  gold 
they  would  grant  any  tavors.  The  golden  promises  of  Simeon 
completely  won  the  heart  of  Usbeck,  and  the  young  prince 
returned  to  Moscow  Hushed  with  success.  He  assumed  such 
airs  of  superiority  and  of  power  as  secured  for  him  the  title  of 
Tlie  Superb.  He  caused  himself  to  be  crowned  king,  with 
much  religious  pomjD,  in  the  cathedral  of  Vladimir,  Novgo- 
rod manifested  some  resistance  to  his  assumptions.  He  in- 
stantly invaded  the  principality,  hewed  down  all  opposition, 
and  punished  his  opponents  with  such  severity  that  there  was 
a  simultaneous  cry  for  mercy.  Rapidly  he  extended  his 
power,  and  the  fragmentary  principalities  of  Russia  began 
again  to  assume  the  asj^ect  of  concentration  and  adhesion. 

Ere  two  years  had  elapsed,  Usbeck,  the  khan,  died.  This 
remarkable  man  had  been,  for  some  time,  the  friend  and  the 
ally  of  Pope  Beniot  XH.,  who  had  hoped  to  convert  him  to 
the  Christian  religion.  The  khan  had  even  allowed  the  pope 
to  introduce  Christianity  to  the  Tartar  territories  bordering 
on  the  Black  Sea.  Tchanibek,  the  oldest  son  of  Usbeck,  upon 
the  death  of  his  father,  assassinated  his  brothers,  and  thus 
attained  the  supreme  authority.  He  was  a  zealous  Moham- 
medan, and  commenced  his  reign  by  commanding  all  the 
princes  of  the  principalities  of  Russia  to  hasten  to  the  horde 
and  prostrate  themselves,  in  token  of  homage,  before  his 
throne.  The  least  delay  would  subject  the  oifender  to  confis- 
cation and  death.  Simeon  was  one  of  the  first  to  do  homage 
to  the  new  khan.  He  was  received  with  great  favor,  and  dis- 
missed confirmed  in  all  his  privileges. 

In  the  year  1346,  one  of  the  most  desolating  plagues  re- 
corded in  history,  commenced  its  ravages  in  China,  and  swept 
over  all  Asia  and  nearly  all  Europe.  The  disease  is  recorded 
in  the  ancient  annals  under  tlie  name  of  Black  Death.  Thir- 
teen millions  of  the  population  were,  in  the  course  of  a  few 
months,  swept   intu  the  grave.     Entire  cities  were  depopu- 


RESURRECTION      OF     THE     MONARCHT.  145 

lated,  and  the  dead  by  thousands  lay  unbuiied.  The  pestilence 
swept  with  terrible  fury  the  eucaiupments  of  the  Tartars,  and 
weakened  that  despotic  power  beyond  all  recovery.  But  one 
third  of  the  population  of  the  principalities  of  Pskof  and  of 
Novgorod  were  left  living.  At  London  fifty  thousand  were 
interred  in  a  single  cemetery.  The  disease  commenced  with 
swellings  on  the  fleshy  parts  of  the  body,  a  violent  spitting  of 
blood  ensued,  which  was  followed  by  death  the  second  or 
third  day. 

It  is  impossible,  according  to  the  ancient  annalists,  to  imag- 
ine a  spectacle  so  terrible.  Young  and  old,  fathers  and  chil- 
dren, were  buried  in  the  same  grave.  Entire  families  disap- 
peared ill  a  day.  Each  curate  found,  every  morning,  thirty 
dead  bodies,  often  more,  in  his  church.  Greedy  men  at  lirst 
oftered  their  services  to  the  dying,  hoping  to  obtain  their 
estates,  but  M'hen  it  was  found  that  the  disease  was  commu- 
nicated by  touch,  even  the  most  wealthy  could  obtain  no 
aid.  The  son  fled  from  the  father.  The  brother  avoided  the 
brother.  Still  there  were  not  a  few  examples  of  the  most 
generous  and  self  sacrificing  devotion.  Medical  skill  was  of 
no  avail  whatever,  and  the  churches  were  thronged  with  the 
multitudes  who,  in  the  midst  of  the  dying  and  the  dead,  were 
crying  to  God  for  aid.  Multitudes  in  their  terror  bequeathed 
all  their  property  to  the  church,  and  sought  refuge  in  the 
monasteries.  It  truth,  it  appeared  as  if  Heaven  had  pio- 
nounced  the  sentence  of  immediate  death  upon  the  whole 
human   family. 

Five  times,  duiing  his  short  reign,  Simeon  was  com- 
jjelled  to  repair  to  the  horde,  to  remove  suspicions  and 
appease  displeasure.  He  at  length  so  far  ingratiated  him- 
self into  flivor  with  the  khan,  that  the  Tartar  sovereign  i!on- 
ferred  upon  him  the  title  of  Grand  Tiiiice  of  all  the  RussUis. 
The  death  of  Simeon  in  the  year  1353,  caused  a  general  rush 
of  the  princes  of  the  sevei-al  principalities  to  the  Tartar 
horde,  each  emulous  of  being  a[)pointed  his  successor.    Tclian- 


146  THE     EJIPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

ibek,  the  khan,  after  suitable  deliberaticwi,  conferred  the  dig- 
nity npon  Jean  Ivanovitch  of  Moscow.  His  reign  of  six 
years  was  disturbed  by  a  multiplicity  of  intestine  feuds,  but 
no  events  occurred  worthy  of  record.  He  died  in  1359. 
/  Again  the  Russian  princes  crowded  to  the  horde,  as,  in 
every  age,  office  seekers  have  thronged  the  court.  The  khan, 
after  due  deliberation,  conferred  the  investiture  of  the  grand 
principality  npon  Dmitri  of  Souzdal,  though  the  appointment 
was  received  with  great  dissatisfaction  by  the  other  princes. 
But  now  the  power  of  the  Tartars  was  rapidly  on  the  decline. 
Assassination  succeeded  assassination,  one  chieftain  after  an- 
other securing  the  assassination  of  his  rival  and  with  bloody 
hands  ascending  the  Mogol  throne.  The  swords  of  the  Mo- 
gol  warriors  were  turned  against  each  other,  as  rival  cliieftains 
rallied  their  followers  for  attack  or  defense.  Civil  war  raged 
-among  these  fierce  bands  witli  most  terrible  ferocitj'.  Famhie 
and  pestilence  followed  the  ravages  of  the  sword. 

While  the  horde  was  in  this  state  of  distraction,  antago- 
nistic khans  began  to  court  the  aid  ot'tlie  Russian  princes,  and 
a  successful  Tartar  chieftain,  who  had  poignarded  his  rival,  and 
thus  attained  the  throne,  deposed  Dmitri  of  Souzdal,  and  de- 
clared a  young  pi-ince,  Dmitri  of  Moscow,  to  be  sovereign  of 
Russia.  But  as  the  khan,  whose  whole  energies  were  re- 
quired to  retain  his  disputed  throne,  could  send  no  army  into 
Russia  to  enforce  this  decree,  Dmitri  of  Souzdal  paid  but 
little  attention  to  the  paper  edict.  Immediately  the  Russian 
])rinces  arrayed  themselves  on  different  sides.  The  conflict 
was  slioi-t,  but  decisive,  and  the  victorious  prince  of  Moscow 
was  crowned  as  sovereign.  The  light  of  a  resurrection  morn- 
ing was  now  dawning  upon  the  Russian  monarchy.  There 
were,  fortunately,  at  this  time,  two  rival  khans  beyond  the 
waves  of  the  Caspian  opposing  each  other  with  bloody  cime- 
ters.  The  energetic  young  prince,  by  fortunate  marriage,  and 
by  the  success  of  his  arms,  rapidly  extended  his  authority. 
But  again  the  awful    plague  swept  Russia.     The  annalists  o£ 


RESURRECTION      OF     THE      MONARCHY.  147 

those  (lays  thus  describo  the  symptoms  and  the  cliaracter  of 
tlie  malady  : 

"  One  felt  himself  suddenly  struck  as  by  a  knife  plunged 
into  the  heart  through  the  shoulder  blades  or  between  the 
two  shoulders.  An  intense  fire  seemed  to  burn  the  entrails  ; 
blood  flowed  freely  from  the  throat ;  a  violent  perspiration 
ensued,  followed  by  severe  chills ;  tumors  gatheie<,l  ujion  the 
neck,  the  hip,  under  the  arms  or  behind  the  shoulder  blades. 
The  end  was  invariably  the  same — deatli,  inevitable,  speedy, 
but  terrible." 

Out  of  a  hundred  persons,  frequently  not  more  than  ten 
would  be  left  alive.  Moscow  was  almost  depopulated.  In 
Smolensk  but  live  individuals  escaped,  and  they  were  com- 
pelled to  abandon  the  city,  the  houses  and  the  streets  being 
encumbered  with  the  putrefying  bodies  of  the  dead.*  Just 
before  this  disaster,  Moscow  suffered  severely  from  a  confla- 
gration. The  imperial  palace  and  a  large  portion  of  the  city 
were  laid  in  ashes.  The  prince  then  resolved  to  construct  a 
Kremlin  of  stone,  and  he  laid  the  foundations  of  a  gorgeous 
palace  in  the  year  1367. 

Dmitri  now  began  to  bid  defiance  to  the  Tartars,  doubly 
weakened  by  the  sweep  of  the  pestilence  and  by  internal  dis- 
cord. There  were  a  few  minor  conflicts,  in  wliich  the  Rus- 
sians were  victorious,  and,  elated  by  success,  they  began  to 
rally  for  a  united  effort  to  shake  off  the  degrading  Mogol 
yoke.  Three  bands  of  the  Tartars  were  encam])ed  at  the 
mouth  of  tlie  Dnieper.  The  Russians  descended  the  river  in 
barges,  assailed  them  with  the  valor  which  their  fathers  had 
displayed,  and  drove  the  pagans,  in  wild  rout,  to  tlie  shores 
of  tlie  Sea  of  Azof. 

The  Tartars,  astounded  at  such  un])recedented  audacity, 
forgetting,  for  the  time,  their  personal  animosities,  (;ollected 
a  large  army,  and   commenced  a  mai-ch  upon  JNEoscow.     Ihe 

*  Soo  Ifistoire  de  TRmpire  do  Russie,  par  M  Karamsin.  Traduilo  par 
MM.  St.  Thomas  et  JaufTret.     Tome  cinquicme,  p.  10. 


148  THE     EMPIEE      OF     RUSSIA. 

giaud  prince  difepatched  his  couriers  in  every  direction  to 
assemble  the  princes  of  the  empire  with  all  the  soldiers  they 
could  bring  into  the  field.  Again  the  Tartars  were  repulsed. 
For  many  years  the  Tartars  had  been  in  possession  of  Bul- 
garia, an  extensive  region  east  of  the  Volga.  In  the  year 
1376,  the  grand  prince,  Dmitri,  litted  out  an  expedition  for 
the  reconquest  of  that  country.  The  Russian  arms  were  sig- 
nally successful.  The  Tartars,  beaten  on  all  hands,  their 
cities  burned,  their  boats  destroyed,  were  compelled  to  sub- 
mit to  the  conqueror.  A  large  sum  of  money  was  extorted 
from  them  to  be  distributed  among  the  troops.  Tiiey  were 
forced  to  acknowledge  themselves,  in  their  turn,  tributary  to 
Russia,  and  to  accept  Russian  magistrates  for  the  govern- 
ment of  their  cities. 

Encouraged  by  this  success,  the  grand  prince  made  ar- 
rangements for  other  exploits.  A  border  warfare  ensued, 
which  Avas  continued  for  several  years  with  alternating  suc- 
cess and  with  great  ferocity.  Neither  party  spared  age  or 
sex,  and  cities  and  villages  were  indiscriminately  committed 
to  the  llanies.  Russia  was  soon  alarmed  by  the  rumor  that 
Mamai,  a  Tartar  chieftain,  was  approaching  the  frontiers  of 
Russia  with  one  of  the  largest  armies  the  Mogols  had  ever 
raised.  This  intelligence  roused  the  Russians  to  the  highest 
pitch  of  energy  to  meet  their  foes  in  a  decisive  battle.  An 
immense  force  was  soon  assembled  at  Moscow  from  all  parts 
of  the  kingdom.  After  having  completed  all  his  arrange- 
ments, Dmitri,  with  his  chief  captains,  repaired  to  the  chui-cli 
of  the  Trinity  to  receive  the  benediction  of  the  metropolitan 
bishop. 

"You  will  tiium])h,"  said  the  venerable  ecclesiastic,  "but 
only  after  terrible  carnage.  You  will  vanquish  the  enemy, 
but  your  laurels  will  be  sprinkled  with  the  blood  of  a  vast 
number  of  Christian  heroes." 

The  trooi)s,  accompanied  by  ecclesiastics  who  bore  the 
banners  of  the  cross,  passed  out  at  the  gate  of  the  Kremlin. 


RESURRECTION      OF     THE     MONARCHY.       149 

As  the  majestic  liost  defiled  from  the  city,  the  grand  prince 
passed  the  hours  in  the  churcli  of  Saint  Michael,  kneeling 
upon  the  tomb  of  his  ancestors,  fervently  imploring  the  bless- 
ing of  Heaven.  Animated  by  the  strength  which  prayer  ever 
gives,  he  embraced  his  wife,  saying,  "  God  will  be  our  de- 
fender," and  then,  mounting  his  horse,  placed  himself  at  the 
head  of  his  army.  It  was  a  beautiful  summer's  day,  calm, 
serene  and  cloudless,  and  the  whole  army  were  sanguine  in  the 
hope  that  God  would  smile  upon  their  enterprise.  Marching 
nearly  soutli,  along  the  valley  of  the  Moskwa,  they  reached, 
in  a  few  days,  the  large  city  of  Kolomna,  a  hundred  miles 
distant,  on  tlie  banks  of  the  Oka.  Here  they  Avere  joined  by 
several  confederate  princes,  with  their  contingents  of  troops, 
swelling  the  army  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  men. 
Seventy-five  thousand  of  these  were  cavalry,  superbly  mount- 
ed. Never  had  Russia,  even  in  her  days  of  greatest  splendor, 
witnessed  a  more  magnificent  array. 

Mamai,  the  Tartar  khan,  had  assembled  the  horde,  in  num- 
bers whicli  he  deemed  overwhelming,  on  the  waters  of  the 
Don.  Resolved  not  to  await  the  irruption  of  the  foe,  on  the 
20th  of  August,  Dmitri,  with  his  army,  crossed  the  Oka,  and 
pressed  forward  towards  the  valley  of  the  Don.  They  reached 
this  stream  on  the  6th  of  September.  Soon  detachments  of 
the  advanced  guards  of  the  two  armies  met,  and  several  skir- 
mishes ensued.  Dmitri  assembled  liis  generals  in  solemn  con- 
clave, and  saying  to  them,  "  The  hour  of  God's  judgment  has 
sounded,"  gave  minute  directions  for  the  conflict.  Aided  by  a 
dense  fog,  whicli  concealed  their  operations  from  the  view  of 
the  enemy,  tlie  army  crossed  the  Don,  the  cavalry  foi'ding  the 
stream,  while  the  infantry  i^assed  over  by  a  hastily-constructed 
bridge.  Dmitri  di-jdoyed  his  columns  in  battl((  ari-ay  upoji  the 
vast  plain  of  Koulikof  A  mound  ot' earth  was  thrown  up,  that 
Dmitri,  upon  its  summit,  might  overlook  the  whole  ])lain. 

As  the  Russian  jjrince  stood  upon  this  pyramid  and  con- 
templated his  army,  there  was  spread  before  him  such  a  s]>ec- 


150  THE     EMPIRE      OF     KUSSIA. 

tacle  Jis  moi'tal  eyes  have  seldom  seen.  A  hundrecl  and  fifty 
thousand  men  were  marshaled  on  the  plain.  It  was  the  morn- 
ing of  the  8th  of  September,  1380.  Thousands  of  banners 
flattered  in  the  breeze.  The  polished  armor  of  the  cavaliers, 
cuirass,  spear  and  helmet,  glittered  in  the  rays  of  the  sun. 
Seventy-five  thousand  steeds,  gorgeously  caparisoned,  were 
neighing  and  prancing  over  the  verdant  savanna.  The  sol- 
diers, according  to  their  custom,  shouted  the  prayer,  which 
rose  like  the  roar  of  many  waters,  "  Great  God,  grant  to  our 
sovereign  the  victory."  Tiie  whole  sublime  scene  moved  the 
soul  of  Dmitry  to  its  profouiidest  depths;  and  as  he  reflected 
that  in  a  few  hours  perhaps  the  greater  portion  of  that  multi- 
tude might  lie  dead  upon  the  field,  tears  gushed  from  his  eyes, 
and  kneeling  upon  the  summit  of  tlie  mound,  in  the  presence 
of  the  whole  army,  he  extended  his  hands  towards  heaven  in 
a  fervent  prayer  that  God  would  protect  Russia  and  Chris- 
tianity from  the  heel  of  the  infidel.  Then,  mounting  his  horse, 
he  rode  along  the  ranks,  exclaiming, 

"  My  brothers  dearly  beloved ;  my  faithful  comj^anions  in 
arms :  by  your  exploits  this  day  you  will  live  for  ever  in  the 
memory  of  men  ;  and  those  of  you  who  fall  will  find,  beyond 
the  tomb,  the  crown  of  martyrs." 

The  Tartar  host  approached  upon  the  boundless  plain 
slowly  and  cautiously,  but  in  numbers  even  exceeding  those 
of  the  Russians.  Xotwitlistanding  the  most  earnest  remon- 
strances of  his  generals,  Dmitri  led  tlie  cliarge,  exposing  him- 
self to  every  peril  "which  tlie  humblest  soldier  was  called  to 
meet. 

"  It  is  not  in  me,"  said  he,  "to  seek  a  i)lace  of  safety  while 
crying  out  to  you,  ''My  brothers^  let  lis  die  for  our  country l"* 
My  actions  shall  correspond  with  my  words.  I  am  your  chief. 
I  will  be  your  guide.  I  will  go  in  advance,  and,  if  I  die,  it  is 
for  you  to  avenge  me," 

Again  ascending  the  mound,  the  king,  with  a  loud  voice, 
read  the  forty-sixth  Psalm :  "  God  is  our  refuge  and  strength, 


RESTTKRECTION      OF     THE     MONARCUY.        151 

a  very  present  help  in  trouble.  Therefore  will  not  we  fear 
tlioui^h  the  earth  be  removed,  and  though  the  mountains  be 
curried  into  the  midst  of  the  sea."  The  battle  was  imme- 
diately commenced,  with  ferocity  on  both  sides  which  has 
probably  never  been  surpassed.  For  three  hours  the  two 
armies  were  blended  in  a  hand  to  hand  fight,  spreading  over 
a  space  seven  miles  in  length.  Blood  flowed  in  torrents,  and 
the  sod  was  covered  with  the  slain.  Here  ti»e  Russians  were 
victorious  and  the  Tartars  fled  before  them.  There  the  Tar- 
tars, with  frenzied  shouts,  chased  the  Russians  in  awful  rout 
over  the  plain.  Dmitri  had  stationed  a  strong  reserve  behind 
a  forest.  When  both  parties  were  utterly  exhausted,  sud- 
denly this  reserve  emerged  from  their  retreat  and  rushed  upon 
the  foe.  Vladimir,  the  brother  of  Dmitri,  led  the  charge. 
The  Mogols,  surprised,  confounded,  overwhelmed  and  utterly 
routed,  in  the  wildest  confusion,  and  with  outcries  which  rent 
the  heavens,  turned  and  fled.  "  The  God  of  the  Christians 
has  con(piered,"  exclaimed  the  Tartar  chief,  gnashing  his  teeth 
in  despair.  The  Tartars  were  hewed  down  by  saber  strokes 
from  unexhausted  arms,  aixl  tram[iled  beneath  the  hoofs  of 
the  war  horse.  Tlie  entire  camp  of  the  horde,  with  immense 
booty  of  tents,  chariots,  horses,  camels,  cattle  and  precious 
commodities  of  every  kind,  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  captors. 
The  valorous  prince  Vladimir,  the  hero  of  the  day,  re- 
turned to  the  field  of  battle,  which  his  cavalry  had  swept  like 
a  tornado,  and  j^lanting  his  banner  upon  a  mound,  with  signal 
trumpets,  summoned  the  whole  victorious  host  to  rally  around 
it.  The  princes,  the  nobles,  from  every  part  of  the  extended 
field,  gathered  beneath  its  folds.  But  to  their  consternation, 
the  grand  prince,  Dmitri,  was  missing.  Amidst  the  surgings 
of  the  battle  he  had  disappeared,  and  was  nowhere  to  be 
found. 


CHAPTER    IX 

DMITRI,  VASSAL!,  AND   THE   MOGOL   TAMERLANE. 
Feoji  1380  TO  14G2. 

Keoovebt  op  Dmitui. — Nkw  Tartar  Invasion. — The  Assatjlt  and  CAPTirRE  op 
Moscow. — New  Subjugation  of  the  Russians. — Lithuania  Embraces  Chris- 
tianity.— Escape   of    Vassali  From  the   Horde.— Dk.^tii   of   Dmitri. — Tamhr- 

LANE. — lIis   Origin   and   Career His    Invasion  of  India. — Defeat  of  Ba.ia- 

zet. —  Tamerlane  Invades  Kussia. —  Preparations  for  IIesistance.  —  Sudden 
Eetreat  of  the  Tartars.  —  Death  of  Vassali. — Accession  of  Vassali  Vab- 
BiLicviTCH. — The  Disputed  Succession. — Appeal  to  the  Kuan. — Rebellion  op 
YouRi.— Crueltt  of  Vassali. — Tue  Retribution. 

WHERE  is  my  brotlier  ?"  exclaimed  Vladimir  ;  "  where 
is  he  to  whom  we  are  indebted  for  all  this  glory  ?" 
No  one  could  give  any  information  respecting  Dmitri.  In  the 
tumult  he  had  disappeared.  Sadly  the  chieftains  dispersed 
over  the  plain  to  search  for  him  among  the  dead.  After  a 
long  exploration,  two  soldiers  found  him  in  the  midst  of  a  heap 
of  the  slain.  Stunned  by  a  blow,  he  had  fallen  from  his  horse, 
and  was  apparently  lifeless.  As  with  filial  love  they  hung 
over  his  remains,  bathing  his  bloody  brow,  he  opened  his 
eyes.  Gradually  ho  recovered  consciousness ;  and  as  he  saw 
the  indications  of  triumph  in  the  laces  of  his  friends,  heard 
the  words  of  assurance  that  he  had  gained  the  victory,  and 
witnessed  the  Russian  banners  all  over  the  field,  floating  above 
the  dead  bodies  of  the  Tartars,  in  a  transport  of  joy  he  folded 
his  hands  upon  his  breast,  closed  his  eyes  and  breathed  forth 
a  fervent,  grateful  prayer  to  God.  The  princes  stood  silently 
and  reverently  by,  as  their  sovereign  thus  returned  thanks  to 
Heaven. 

Joy  operated  so  efllectually  as  a  stimulus,  that  the  prhice, 
who  had  been  stunned,  but  not  seriously  wounded,  mounted 


DMITRI,      V  ASS  A  LI     AND     TAMERLANE.         lo3 

his  horse  aiid  rode  over  the  hard-fought  fiekl.  Though  thou- 
sands of  the  Russians  were  silent  m  deatli,  the  prince  coukl 
count  more  than  four  times  as  many  dead  bodies  of  the  enemy. 
According  to  the  annals  of  the  time,  a  hundred  thousand 
Tartars  were  slain  on  that  day.  Couriers  were  immediately 
dispatched  to  all  the  prmcipalities  with  the  joyful  tidings. 
The  anxiety  had  been  so  great,  that,  from  the  moment  the 
army  passed  the  Don,  the  churclies  had  been  thronged  by 
day  and  by  night,  and  incessant  prayers  liad  ascended  to 
heaven  for  its  success.  No  language  can  describe  the  en- 
thusiasm which  the  glad  tidings  inspired.  It  was  felt  that 
henceforth  the  prosperity,  the  glory,  the  independence  of 
Russia  was  secured  for  ever ;  that  the  supremacy  of  the  horde 
was  annihilated;  that  the  blood  of  the  Christians,  shed  upon 
the  plain  of  Koulikof,  was  the  last  sacrifice  Russia  was  doomed 
to  make. 

But  in  these  anticipations,  Russia  was  destined  to  be  sadly 
disappointed.  Mamai,  the  discomtited  Tartar  chieftain,  over- 
whelmed with  shame  and  rage,  reached,  with  the  wreck  of  his 
army,  one  of  the  great  encampments  of  the  Tartars  on  the 
banks  of  the  Volga.  A  new  khan,  the  world-renowned  Tam- 
erlane, now  swayed  the  scepter  of  Tartar  power.  Two  years 
were  devoted  to  immense  preparations  for  the  new  invasion 
of  Russia.  Suddenly  and  unexpectedly,  Dmitri  was  informed 
that  the  Taitars  were  approaching  in  strength  unprecedented. 
Russia  was  unprepared  for  the  attack,  and  terror  congealed 
all  hearts.  The  invaders,  crossing  the  Volga  and  the  Oka, 
piessed  rapidly  towards  Moscow. 

Dmitri,  deeming  it  in  vain  to  attempt  the  defense  of  the 
ca])ital,  fled,  witli  his  wife  and  children,  two  hundred  miles 
north,  to  the  fortress  of  Kostroma.  A  young  prince,  Ostei, 
was  left  in  command  of  the  city,  with  orders  to  hold  it  to  the 
last  extremity  against  tlie  Tartars,  and  with  the  assurance 
that  the  king  would  return,  as  speedily  as  possible,  with  an 
armv  from   Kostroma  to  his  relief     The  panic  in  the  city  was 


154  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

fearful,  and  the  gates  were  crowded,  day  and  night,  by  the 
■women  and  cliildren,  the  infirm  and  the  timid  seeking  snfety 
in  lliglit.  Ostei  made  the  most  vigorous  preparations  ior 
defense,  while  tlie  king,  with  untiring  energy,  was  accumuhit- 
ing  an  army  of  rehef  The  merchants  and  laborers  from  the 
neighboring  villages,  and  even  the  monks  and  priests  crowded 
to  Moscow,  demanding  arms  for  tlie  defense  of  the  metrop- 
olis. From  the  battlements  of  the  city,  the  advance  of  the 
barbarians  could  be  traced  by  the  volumes  of  smoke  which 
arose,  as  from  a  furnace,  through  the  day,  and  by  the  flames 
which  flashed  along  the  horizon,  from  the  burning  cities  and 
villages,  through  the  night. 

On  the  evening  of  the  23d  of  August,  1382,  the  Tartars 
appeared  before  the  gates  of  the  city.  Some  of  the  chiefs 
rode  slowly  around  the  ramparts,  examining  the  ditch,  the 
walls,  the  height  of  the  towers,  and  selected  the  most  favor- 
able spot  for  commencing  the  assault.  The  Tartars  did  not 
appear  in  such  overwhelming  numbers  as  report  had  taught 
the  Russians  to  expect,  and  they  felt  quite  sanguine  that  they 
should  be  able  to  defend  the  city.  But  the  ensuing  morning 
disj)elled  all  these  hopes.  It  then  a^^peared  that  these  Tartars 
were  but  the  advance  guard  of  the  great  army.  With  the 
earliest  dawn,  as  far  as  the  eye  could  reach,  the  inundation  of 
warriors  came  rolling  on,  and  terror  vanquished  all  hearts. 
This  army  was  under  the  command  of  a  Tartar  chieftain  called 
Toktamonish.  The  assault  was  instantly  commenced,  and 
continued  without  cessation  four  days  and  nights. 

At  length  the  city  fell,  vanquished,  it  is  said,  by  strntagem 
rather  than  by  force.  The  Tartars  clambei-ing,  by  means  of 
ten  thousand  ladders,  over  the  walls,  and  rushing  through  the 
gates,  with  no  oar  for  mercy,  commenced  the  slaughter  of  the 
inhabitants.  The  city  was  set  on  fire  in  all  directions,  and  a 
scene  of  horror  ensued  indescribable  and  unimaginable.  The 
barbarians,  laden  with  booty,  and  satiated  with  blood  and 
carnage,  encamped  on  the  plain  outside  of  the  walls,  exulting 


DMITRI,     V  ASS  A  LI     AJSD    TAMERLANE.        155 

in  the  entireness  of  their  vengeance.  Moscow,  the  gorgeous 
capital,  was  no  more.  The  dwellings  of  the  city  became  but 
the  funeral  pyre  for  the  bodies  of  the  inhabitants.  The  Tar- 
tars, intoxicated  with  blood,  dispersed  over  the  whole  prin- 
cipality ;  and  all  its  populous  cities,  Vladimir,  Zvenigorod, 
Yourief,  Mojaisk  and  Dmitrof,  experienced  the  same  fate  with 
that  of  Moscow.  The  khan  then  retired,  crossing  the  Oka 
at  Kolomna. 

Dmitri  arrived  with  his  army  at  Moscow,  only  to  behold 
the  ruins.  The  enemy  had  already  disappeared.  In  profound- 
est  affliction,  he  gave  orders  for  the  interment  of  the  charred 
and  blackened  bodies  of  the  dead.  Eighty  thousand,  by 
count,  Avere  interred,  which  number  did  not  include  the  many 
who  had  been  consumed  entirely  by  the  conflagration.  The 
walls  of  the  city  and  the  towers  of  the  Kremlin  still  remained. 
With  great  energy,  the  prince  devoted  himself  to  the  rebuild- 
ing and  the  repeopling  of  the  capital ;  many  years,  however, 
passed  away  ere  it  regained  even  the  shadow  of  its  former 
splendor. 

Thus  again  Russia,  brought  under  the  sway  of  the  Tar- 
tars, was  compelled  to  pay  tribute,  and  Dmitri  was  forced  to 
send  his  own  son  to  the  horde,  where  he  was  long  detained 
as  a  hostage.  The  grand  duchy  of  Lithuania,  bordering  on 
Poland,  was  spread  over  a  region  of  sixty  thousand  square 
miles.  The  grand  duke,  Jaghellon,  a  burly  pagan,  had  mar- 
ried Hedwige,  Queen  of  Poland,  promising,  as  one  of  the 
conditions  of  this  marriage  which  would  unite  Lithuania  and 
Poland,  to  embrace  Christianity.*  He  was  married  and  baj)- 
tized  at  Cracow,  receiving  the  Christian  name  of  Ladislaus. 
He  then  ordered  the  adoption  of  Christianity  throughout 
Lithuania,  and  the  universal  baptism  of  his  subjects.  In  order 
to  facilitate  the  l»aptlsin  of  over  a  million  at  once,  the  inhab- 
itants were   collected    at  several  central  points.     They  were 

*  For  an  account  of  the  romantic  oircumstancos  attondinpc  <liis  mari'iagc, 
HOP  Erapir/-  »f  Aufil'Hn.  pp.  53  nn'l  54. 


156  THE      EMPIRi:      OF     RUSSIA. 

arranged  in  vast  groups,  and  were  sprinkled  with  water  which 
had  been  blessed  by  the  priests.  As  the  formula  of  baptism 
was  pronounced,  to  one  entire  group  the  name  of  Peter  was 
given,  to  another  the  name  of  Paul,  to  another  that  of  John. 
These  converts  were  received,  not  into  the  Greek  church, j 
which  was  dominant  in  Russia,  but  to  the  Romish  church, 
which  prevailed  in  Poland.  Jaghellon  became  immediately 
the  inveterate  foe  of  the  Russians,  whom  he  called  heretics, 
for  new  proselytes  are  almost  invariably  inspired  with  fa- 
natic zeal,  and  he  forbade  the  marriage  of  any  of  his  Cath- 
olic subjects  with  members  of  the  Russian  church.  This 
event  caused  great  grief  to  Dmitri,  for  he  had  relied  upon  the 
cooperation  of  the  warlike  Lithuanians  to  aid  him  to  repel 
the  Mogols. 

Affairs  were  in  this  condition  when  Vassali,  the  son  of 
Dmitri,  escaped  from  the  horde  after  a  three  years'  captivity, 
and,  traversing  Poland  and  Lithuania,  arrived  safely  at  Mos- 
cow. Dmitri  was  now  forty  years  of  age.  He  was  a  man  of 
colossal  stature,  and  of  vigorous  health.  His  hair  and  beard 
were  black  as  the  raven's  wing,  and  his  ruddy  cheek  and 
piercing  eye  seemed  to  give  promise  of  a  long  life.  But  sud- 
denly he  was  seized  with  a  fatal  disease,  and  it  was  soon 
evident  that  death  was  near.  The  intellect  of  the  dying 
prince  was  unclouded,  and,  with  much  fortitude,  in  a  long 
interview,  he  bade  adieu  to  his  wife  and  his  children.  He 
designated  his  son  Vassali,  then  but  seventeen  years  of  age, 
as  his  successor,  and  then,  after  offering  a  touching  prayer, 
folded  his  hands  across  his  breast,  in  the  form  of  a  cross,  and 
died  without  a  struggle.  The  grief  of  the  Russians  was  pro- 
found and  universal.  For  ages  they  had  not  known  a  jirince 
so  illustrious  or  so  devoted  to  the  welfare  of  his  country. 

The  young  Vassali  had  been  but  a  few  years  on  the  throne 
when  Tameilane  himself  advanced  with  countless  hordes  from 
the  far  Orient,  crushing  down  all  opposition,  and  sweeping 
over  prostrate  nations  like  the  pestilence  whicli  had  preceded 


DMITRI,     VASSALI     AND    TAMERLANE.         157 

liim,  and  whose  track  he  followed.  Tamerlane  was  the  son 
of  a  2)etty  Mogol  prince.  He  was  born  in  a  season  of  anarchy, 
and  when  the  whole  Tartar  horde  was  distracted  with  civil 
dissensions.  The  impetuous  young  man  had  hardly  begun  to 
think,  ere  he  had  formed  the  i-esolve  to  attain  the  supremacy 
over  all  the  Mogol  tribes,  to  conquer  the  whole  known  world, 
and  thus  to  render  himself  immortal  in  the  annals  of  glory. 
Behind  a  curtain  of  mountains,  and  protected  by  vast  deserts, 
his  persuasive  genius  collected  a  large  hand  of  followers,  who 
with  enthusiasm  adopted  his  views  and  hailed  him  tlieir  chief 

After  inuring  them  to  fatigue,  and  drilling  them  thorough- 
ly in  the  exercises  of  battle,  he  commenced  his  career.  The 
most  signal  victory  followed  his  steps,  and  he  soon  acquired 
the  title  of  hero.  Ambitious,  war-loving,  thousands  crowded 
to  his  standards,  and  he  had  but  just  attained  the  age  of 
thirty-five  when  he  was  tlie  undisputed  monarcli  of  all  the 
Mogol  tribes,  and  tlie  whole  Asiatic  world  trembled  at  the 
mention  of  his  name.  He  took  his  seat  proudly  upon  the 
throne  of  Genghis  Khan,  a  crown  of  gold  was  placed  upon  his 
brow,  a  royal  girdle  encircled  his  waist,  and  in  accordance  with 
oriental  usage  his  robes  glittered  with  jewels  and  gold.  At 
his  feet  were  his  renowned  chieftains,  kneeling  around  his 
throne  in  homage.  Tamerlane  then  took  an  oath,  that  by  his 
future  exploits  he  would  justify  the  title  he  had  already  ac- 
quired, and  that  all  the  kings  of  the  earth  should  yet  lie 
prostrate  before  liim. 

And  now  commenced  an  incessant  series  of  wars,  and 
victory  ever  crowned  the  banners  of  Tamerlane.  He  was 
soon  in  possession  of  all  the  countries  on  the  eastern  sliores 
of  the  Caspian  Sea.  He  then  entered  Persia,  and  conquered 
the  whole  realm  between  the  Oxus  and  the  Tigris.  Bagdad, 
until  now  the  ]jroud  capital  of  the  caliphs,  submitted  to  his 
sway.  Soon  the  whole  region  of  Asia,  from  the  Sea  of  Aral 
to  the  Persian  Gulf,  and  from  Tetlis  to  the  great  Arabian 
desert,  recognized  the  emi)ire  of  Tamerlane.     The  con(iueror 


158  THE      EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

then  assembled  his  companions  in   ai"ms,  and  thus  addressed 
them  : 

"Friends  and  fellow-soldiers;  fortune,  who  recognizes  me 
as  her  child,  invites  us  to  new  conquests.  The  universe  trem- 
bles at  my  name,  and  the  movement  even  of  one  of  my 
fingers  causes  the  earth  to  quake.  The  realms  of  India  are 
open  to  ns.  Woe  to  those  who  oppose  ray  Avill.  I  will  an. 
nihilate  them  unless  they  acknowledge  me  as  tlieir  lord." 

With  flying  banners  and  pealing  trumpets  he  crossed  the 
Indus,  and  marched  upon  Delhi,  which  for  three  centuries  had 
been  governed  by  the  Mohammedan  sultans.  N"o  opposition 
could  retard  the  sweep  of  his  locust  legions  ;  and  the  re- 
nowned city  at  once  passed  into  his  hands.  Indulging  in  no 
delay,  the  order  was  still  onioards,  and  the  hosts  soon  bathed 
tlieir  dusty  limbs  in  the  waves  of  the  Ganges.  Here  he  was 
informed  that  Bajazet,  the  Grand  Seignior  of  Turkey,  was  on 
a  career  of  conquest  which  rivaled  his  own  ;  that  he  had 
overrun  all  of  Asia  Minor;  that,  crossing  tlie  Hellespont,  he 
had  subjugated  Servia,  Macedonia,  Thessaly,  and  that  he  was 
even  besieging  the  imperial  city  of  Constnntine.  The  jealousy 
of  Tamerlane  was  thoroughly  aroused.  He  instantly  turned 
u])on  his  steps  to  seek  this  foe,  worthy  of  iiis  arms,  dispatch- 
ing to  him 'the  following  defiant  message  : 

"  Leani,"  wrote  Tamerlane  to  Bajazet,  "that  the  earth  is 
covered  with  my  warriors  from  sea  to  sea.  Kings  compose 
my  body  guard,  and  range  themselves  as  servants  before  my 
tent.  Are  you  ignorant  that  the  destiny  of  the  universe  is  in 
my  hands?  Who  are  you?  A  Turkoman  ant.  And  dare 
you  raise  your  head  against  an  elephant  ?  If  in  the  forests 
of  Natolia  you  have  obtained  some  trivial  successes;  if  the 
timid  Europeans  have  fled  like  cowards  before  you,  return 
tlianks  to  Mohammed  for  your  success,  for  it  is  not  owing  to 
your  own  valor.  Listen  to  the  counsels  of  wisdom.  Be  con- 
tent with  the  heritage  of  your  fathers,  and,  however  small 
that  heritage  may  be,  beware  how  you  attempt,  in  the  sliirht- 


DMITKI,     VASSALI     AND     TAMERLANE,       159 

est  degree,  to  extend  its  limits,  lest  death  be  the  penalty  of 
your  temerity." 

To  this  insolent  letter,  Bajazet  responded  in  terms  equally 
defiant. 

"For  a  long  time,"  he  wrote,  "Bajazet  has  burned  with 
the  desire  to  measure  himself  with  Tamerlane,  and  he  returns 
thanks  to  the  All-powerful  that  Tamerlane  now  conies  him- 
selt^  to  present  his  head  to  the  ciraeter  of  Bajazet." 

The  two  conquerors  gathered  all  their  resources  for  the 
great  and  decisive  battle.  Tamerlane  speedily  reached  Aleppo, 
which  city,  after  a  bloody  conflict,  he  entered  in  triumph. 
The  Tartar  chieftain  was  an  impostor  and  a  hypocrite,  as 
well  as  a  merciless  butcher  of  his  fellow-men.  He  assembled 
the  learned  men  of  Aleppo,  and  assured  them  in  most  eloquent 
terms  that  he  was  the  devoted  friend  of  God,  and  that  the 
enemies  who  resisted  his  will  were  responsible  to  God  for  all 
the  evils  their  obstinacy  rendered  it  necessary  for  him  to  in- 
flict. Before  every  conflict  he  fell  upon  his  knees  in  the 
presence  of  the  array  in  prayer.  After  every  victory,  he  as- 
sembled his  troops  to  return  thanks  to  God.  There  are  some 
sad  accounts  to  be  settled  at  the  judgment  day.  In  marching 
from  Aleppo  to  Damascus,  Tamerlane  visited  ostentatiously 
the  pretended  tomb  of  Noah,  that  upon  the  shrine  of  that  pa- 
triarch, so  profoundly  venerated  by  the  Mohammedans,  he 
might  display  his  devotion. 

Damascus  was  pillaged  of  all  its  treasures,  Avhich  had  been 
accumulating  for  ages,  and  was  then  laid  in  ashes.  The  two 
armies,  headed  by  their  respective  chieftains,  met  in  Galacia, 
near  Ancyra.  It  was  the  16th  of  June,  1402.  The  storm  of 
war  raged  for  a  few  houi's,  and  the  army  of  Bajazet  was  cut 
to  pieces  by  superior  numbers,  and  he  himself  was  taken  cap- 
tive. Tamei'lane  treated  his  prisoner  with  the  most  conde- 
scending kindness,  seated  hinr  by  his  side  upon  the  imperial 
couch,  and  endeavored  to  solace  him  by  ])liiIosoplii('al  discpiisi- 
tions  upon  llw  mutability  of  all  human  afl'nirs.     The  aimals  of 


160  THE     EMPIRE     OF     RUSSIA. 

the  day  do  not  sustain  the  rumor  that  Bajazet  was  confined 
in  an  iron  cage. 

The  empire  of  Tamerlane  now  extended  from  the  Caspian 
and  the  Mediterraneau  to  the  Nile  and  the  Ganges.  He  es- 
tablished his  capital  at  Samarcand,  some  six  hundred  miles 
east  of  the  Caspian  Sea.  To  this  central  capital  he  returned 
after  each  of  his  expeditions,  devoting  immense  treasures  to 
the  erection  of  mosques,  the  construction  of  gardens,  the  ex- 
cavation of  canals  and  the  erection  of  cities.  And  now,  in 
the  pride  and  plenitude  of  his  power,  he  commenced  his 
march  upon  Russia. 

His  army,  four  hundred  thousand  strong,  detiled  from  the 
gates  of  Samarcand,  and  marching  to  the  north,  between  the 
Aral  and  the  Caspian  Seas,  traversed  vast  plains,  where  thou- 
sands of  wild  cattle  had  long  enjoyed  undisturbed  pasturage. 
These  cattle  afforded  them  abundant  food.  The  chase,  in 
which  they  engaged  on  a  magnificent  scale,  offered  a  very 
brilliant  spectacle,  Tiiousands  of  horsemen  spread  out  in  an 
immense  circle,  making  I  he  tent  of  the  emperor  the  central 
point.  With  trumpet  blasts,  the  clash  of  arms  and  clouds  of 
javelins  and  arrows,  the  cattle  and  wild  beasts  of  every  kind 
were  driven  in  upon  the  imperial  tent,  where  Tamerlane  and 
his  lords  amused  themselves  with  their  destruction.  The  sol- 
diers gathered  around  the  food  thus  abundantly  supplied,  in- 
numerable fires  were  built,  and  feasting  and  mirth  closed  the 
day.  Vast  herds  of  cattle  were  driven  along  for  the  ordinary 
supply  of  the  troops,  affording  all  the  nourishment  which 
these  rude  barbarians  required.  Pressing  forward,  in  a  long 
march,  which  occupied  several  months,  Tamerlane  crossed  the 
Volga,  and  entered  the  south-eastern  ])rinci2)alities  of  Russia, 
The  tidings  of  tlie  invasion  spread  ra{)idly,  and  all  Russia  was 
paralyzed  with  terror.  The  grand  prince.  Vassal!,  however, 
strove  with  all  his  energies  to  rouse  the  Russians  to  resistance. 
An  army  was  speedily  collected,  and  veteran  leaders  placed  in 
command.       The    Russian  troops  were  rapidly  concentrated 


DMITRI,     yASSALI     AND      TAMERLANE.        161 

near  Kolomna,  on  the  banks  of  the  Oka,  to  dispute  the  pas- 
sage of  the  liver.  All  the  churches  of  Moscow  and  of  Rus- 
sia were  thronged  with  the  terrified  inhabitants  imploring 
divine  aid,  the  clergy  conducting  the  devotions  by  day  and 
by  night. 

Tamerlane,  crossing  from  the  Volga  to  the  Don,  ascended 
the  valley  of  the  latter  stream,  spreading  the  most  cruel  dev- 
astation everywhere  around  him.  It  was  his  design  to  con- 
found his  enemies  with  terror.  He  was  pressing  on  resist- 
lessly  towards  Moscow,  and  had  ariived  within  a  few  days' 
march  of  the  Russian  army  on  the  banks  of  the  Oka,  when 
suddenly  he  stopped,  and  remained  fifteen  days  without  mov- 
ing from  liis  encampment.  Then,  for  some  cause,  which  liis- 
tory  has  never  satisfactorly  explained,  he  turned,  retraced  his 
steps,  and  liis  banners  soon  disappeared  beyond  the  frontiers 
of  the  empire.  It  was  early  in  September  when  he  com- 
menced this  retrograde  march.  Some  have  surmised  that 
he  feared  the  Russians,  strongly  posted  on  the  banks  of  the 
Oka,  others  that  he  dreaded  the  approaching  Russian  winter ; 
others  that  intelligence  of  some  conspiracy  in  his  distant 
realms  arrested  his  steps,  and  otheis  that  God,  in  answer  to 
prayer,  directly  interposed,  and  rescued  Russia  from  ruin. 

The  joy  of  tlie  Russians  was  almost  delirious  ;  and  no  one 
thought  even  of  pursuing  a  foe,  who  without  arriving  within 
sight  of  the  banners  of  the  grand  prince,  or  without  hearing 
the  sound  of  his  war  trumpets,  had  fled  as  in  a  panic. 

The  whole  of  the  remaining  reign  of  Vassali  was  a  scene 
of  tumult  and  strife.  Civil  war  agitated  the  principalities. 
The  Lithuanians,  united  with  Poland,  were  incessant  in  their 
endeavors  to  extend  the  triumph  of  their  arms  over  the  Rus- 
sian provinces;  and  the  Tartar  hordes  again  swept  Russin 
with  the  most  liorribic  devastation.  In  the  midst  of  calami- 
ties and  lamentations,  Vassali  approached  his  grave.  He  died 
on  the  29tli  of  February,  1425,  in  the  fifty -third  year  of  his 
age,  and  the  thirty-sixth  of  his  reign. 


1C2  THE     EMPIRE     OF     KUSSIA. 

Vassal!  Vassalievitch,  sou  of  the  deceased  monarch,  was 
but  ten  years  of  age  when  the  scepter  of  Russia  passed  into 
his  hands.  Youri,  the  eldest  brother  of  the  late  king,  de- 
manded the  throne  in  accordance  with  the  ancient  custom  of 
descent,  and  denied  the  right  of  his  brother  to  bequeath  the 
crown  to  his  son.  After  much  trouble,  both  of  the  rival 
claimants  consented  to  submit  the  question  to  the  decision  of 
the  Tartar  khan,  to  whom  it  appears  that  Russia  still  paid 
tribute.  Vassali  was  to  remain  upon  the  throne  until  the 
question  was  decided.  '  Six  years  passed  away,  and  yet  no 
answer  to  the  appeal  had  been  obtained  from  the  khan.  At 
length  both  agreed  to  visit  the  horde  in  person.  It  was  a 
perilous  movement,  and  Vassali,  as  yet  but  a  boy  sixteen 
years  of  age,  wept  bitterly  as  he  left  the  church,  where  he 
had  implored  the  prayers  of  the  faithful,  and  set  out  upon  liis 
journey.  All  the  powers  of  bribery  and  intrigue  were  em- 
ployed by  each  j^arty  to  obtain  a  favorable  verdict. 

A  tribunal  was  appointed  to  adjudge  the  cause,  over  which 
Machmet,  the  khan,  presided.  Vassali  claimed  the  domin- 
ion, on  the  giound  of  the  new  rule  of  descent  adopted  by  the 
Russian  princes.  Youri  pleaded  the  ancient  custom  of  the 
empire.  The  power  which  the  Tartar  horde  still  exercised, 
may  be  inferred  from  the  huuiiliating  speech  which  Jean,  a 
noble  of  Moscow,  made  on  this  occasion,  in  advocacy  of  the 
cause  of  the  young  Vassali.  Approaching  Machmet,  and  bow- 
mg  profoundly  before  him,  he  said, 

"Sovereign  king,  your  humble  slave  conjures  you  to  per- 
mit him  to  speak  in  behalf  of  his  young  piince.  Youri  founds 
his  claim  upon  the  ancient  institutions  of  Russia.  Vassali  ap- 
peals only  to  your  generous  protection,  for  he  knows  that  Rus- 
sia is  but  one  of  the  provinces  of  your  vast  domains.  You,  as 
its  sovereign,  can  dispose  of  the  throne  according  to  your 
pleasure.  Condescend  to  reflect  that  the  uncle  demands,  the 
nephew  supplicates.  What  signify  ancient  or  modern  cus- 
toms when  all  depends  upon  your  royal  will?     Is  it  not  that 


DMITBI,      VASSALI     AND     TAilERJLANii.       1G3 

august  will  which  has  contirmed  the  testament  of  Vassali 
Dmitrievitch,  by  which  his  son  was  nominated  as  heir  of  the 
principality  of  Moscow?  For  six  years,  Vassali  Vassilievitch 
has  been  upon  the  throne.  Would  you  have  allowed  him 
thus  to  remain  there  had  you  not  recognized  him  as  the  legit- 
imate prince  '?" 

This  base  flattery  accomplished  its  object.  Vassali  was 
pronounced  grand  prince,  and,  in  accordance  with  Tartar  cus- 
tom, the  uncle  was  compelled  to  hold  the  bridle  while  his 
successful  rival,  at  the  door  of  the  tent,  mounted  his  horse. 
On  their  return  to  Moscow,  Vassali  was  crowned,  with  great 
i:)omp,  in  the  church  of  Notre  Dame.  Youri,  while  at  the 
horde,  dared  not  manifest  the  slightest  opposition  to  the 
decision,  but,  having  returned  to  his  own  country,  he  mur- 
mured loudly,  rallied  his  friends,  excited  disaftection,  and 
soon  kindled  the  flames  of  civil  war. 

Youri  soon  marched,  with  an  army,  upon  Moscow,  took 
the  city  by  storm,  and  Vassali,  who  had  displayed  but  little 
energy  of  character,  was  made  cajDtive.  Youri  proclaimed 
himself  grand  prince,  and  Vassali  in  vain  endeavored  to 
move  the  compassion  of  his  captor  by  tears.  The  uncle,  how- 
evei",  so  far  had  pity  for  his  vanquished  nephew  as  to  appoint 
liim  to  the  governorship  of  the  city  of  Kolomna.  This  seemcil 
porfuctly  to  satisfy  tlie  pusillanimous  young  man,  and,  after 
partaking  of  a  splendid  feast  with  his  uncle,  he  departed, 
rejoicing,  from  the  capital  where  he  had  been  enthroned,  to 
the  provincial  city  assigned  to  him. 

A  curious  result  ensued.  Youri  brought  to  Moscow  his 
own  friends,  who  were  placed  in  the  posts  of  honor  and  au- 
thority. Such  general  discontent  was  excited,  that  the  citi- 
zens, in  crowds,  abandoned  Moscow  and  repaired  to  Kolomna, 
and  rallied,  with  the  utmost  enthusiasm,  around  their  ejected 
sovereign.  The  dwellings  and  the  streets  of  Moscow  became 
silent  and  deserted.  Kolomna,  on  the  contrary,  was  thronged. 
To  use  the  expression  of  a  Russian  annalist,  the  people  gath- 


1G4  THE     EMPIKli      OF      RUSSIA. 

ered  around  tlieir  prince  as  bees  cluster  around  their  queen. 
The  tidings  of  the  life,  activity  and  thriving  b-usiness  to  be 
found  at  Kolomna,  lured  ever-increasing  numbers,  and,  in  a 
few  months,  grass  was  growing  in  the  streets  of  Moscow, 
while  Kolomna  had  become  the  thronged  metropolis  of  the 
principality.  The  nobles,  with  their  armies,  gathered  around 
Vassali,  and  Youri  was  so  thoroughly  abandoned,  that,  con 
vinced  of  the  impossibility  of  maintaining  his  position,  he  sent 
word  to  his  nephew  that  he  yielded  to  him  the  capital,  and 
immediately  left  fur  his  native  principnlity  of  Galitch. 

The  journey  of  Vassali,  from  Kolomna  to  Moscow,  a  dis- 
tance of  two  hundred  miles,  was  a  brilliant  triumj^h.  An 
immense  crowd  accompanied  the  grand  prince  the  whole 
distance,  raising  incessant  shouts  of  joy.  But  Youri  was  by 
no  means  prepared  to  relinquish  his  claim,  and  soon  tlie  armies 
of  the  two  rivals  were  struggling  upon  the  field  of  battle. 
While  the  conflict  was  raging,  Youri  suddenly  died  at  the  age 
of  sixty  years.  One  of  the  sons  of  Youri  ma<le  an  attempt  to 
regain  the  throne  which  his  father  had  lost,  but  he  failed  in 
the  attempt,  and  was  taken  captive.  Vassali,  as  cruel  as  he 
was  pusillanimous,  in  vengeance,  plucked  out  the  eyes  of  his 
cousin.  Vassali,  now  seated  peacefully  upon  liis  throne,  ex- 
erted himself  to  keep  on  friendly  relations  with  the  horde, 
by  being  prompt  in  the  payment  of  the  tribute  which  they 
exacted. 

In  June,  1444,  the  Tartars,  having  taken  some  ofiense, 
again  invaded  Russia.  Vassali  had  no  force  of  character  to 
resist  them.  Under  his  weak  reign  the  grand  princi])ality  had 
lost  all  its  vigor.  The  Tartars  surprised  the  Russian  army  near 
Moscow,  and  overwhelming  them  with  numbers,  two  to  one, 
trampled  them  beneath  their  horses.  Vassali  Ibught  fiercely, 
as  sometimes  even  the  most  timid  will  fight  when  hedged  in 
by  despair.  An  arrow  pierced  his  hand ;  a  saber  stroke  cut 
off  several  of  his  fingers;  a  javelin  pierced  his  shoulder;  thir- 
teen wounds  covered  his  head  and  breast,  wlien  by  the  blow 


DMITRI,      V  ASS  A  LI      AND     TAMERLANE.       165 

of  a  battle-ax  he  was  struck  to  the  ground  and  taken  prisoner. 
Tlie  Tartars,  elated  with  their  signal  victory,  and  tearful  that 
all  Russia  might  rise  for  the  rescue  of  its  prince,  retreated 
rapidly,  carrying  with  tlieui  their  captive  and  inmu-nse  booty. 
As  they  retired  tliey  plundered  and  burned  every  city  and 
village  on  their  way.  After  a  captivity  of  three  months  the 
prince  was  i-eleased,  upon  paying  a  moderate  ransom,  and  re- 
turned to  Moscow. 

Still  new  sorrows  awaited  the  prince.  He  was  doomed  to 
experience  that,  even  in  this  world.  Providence  often  rewards 
a  man  according  to  his  deeds.  The  brothers  of  the  prince, 
whose  eyes  Vassali  had  caused  to  be  plucked  out,  formed  a 
conspiracy  against  him  ;  and  they  were  encouraged  in  this 
conspiracy  by  the  detestation  with  which  the  grand  prince 
was  now  generally  regarded. 

During  the  night  of  the  12th  of  February,  1446,  the  con- 
spirators entered  the  Kremlin.  Vassali,  who  attempted  to 
compensate  for  his  neglect  of  true  religion  by  punctilious 
and  ostentatious  observance  of  ecclesiastical  rites,  was  in  the 
church  of  the  Trinity  attending  a  midnight  mass.  Silently 
the  conspirators  surrounded  the  church  with  their  troops. 
Vassali  was  prostrate  upon  the  tomb  of  a  Russian  saint,  appar- 
ently absorbed  in  devotion.  Soon  the  alarm  was  given,  and 
the  prince,  in  a  paroxysm  of  terror,  threw  himself  upon  his 
knees,  and  for  once,  at  least,  in  his  life,  prayed  with  sincerity 
and  fervor.  His  pathetic  cries  to  God  for  help  caused  many 
of  the  nobles  around  him  to  weep.  The  prince  was  immedi- 
ately seized,  no  opposition  being  offered,  and  was  confined  in 
one  of  the  palaces  of  Moscow.  Four  nights  after  his  capture, 
some  agents  of  tiie  conspirators  entered  his  apartment  and 
toi-e  out  his  eyes,  as  he  had  torn  out  the  eyes  of  his  cousin. 
He  was  tlien  sent,  with  liis  wife,  to  a  castle  in  a  distant  city, 
uud  his  (•Iii!(h-en  wei'c  immured  in  a  convent.  Dmitri  Chem- 
yaka,  the  j»rime  mover  of  this  conspiracy,  now  assumed  the 
reins  of  government.     Gradually  the  grand  principality  had 


166  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

lost  its  power  over  the  other  principalities  of  the  empire,  and 
Russia  was  again,  virtually,  a  conglomeration  of  independent 
states. 

Pul)lic  opinion  now  turned  so  sternly  against  Chemyakn, 
and  such  bitter  murmurs  rose  around  his  throne  for  the  cruelly 
he  had  practiced  ujion  Vassali,  that  he  felt  constrained  to  libe- 
]-ate  the  prince,  and  to  assign  him  a  residence  of  splendor  upon 
the  shores  of  lake  Kouben.  Chemyaka,  thus  constrained  to 
set  the  body  of  his  captive  free,  wished  to  enchain  his  soul  by 
the  most  solemn  oaths.  With  all  his  court  he  visited  Vassali. 
The  blinded  prince,  with  cliaracteristic  duplicity,  expressed 
heartfelt  penitence  in  view  of  his  past  course,  and  took  the 
most  solemn  oaths  never  to  attempt  to  disturb  the  reign  of 
his  conqueror, 

Vassali  received  the  city  of  Vologda  in  appanage,  to  which 
he  retii'ed,  with  liis  family,  and  with  the  nobles  and  bishops 
who  still  adhered  to  him.  But  a  few  months  had  passed  ere 
he,  with  his  friends,  had  enlisted  the  cooperation  of  many 
princes,  and  especially  of  the  Tartar  horde,  and  was  on  the 
march  with  a  strong  army  to  drive  Chemyaka  from  Moscow, 
Chemyaka,  utterly  discomfited,  fled,  and  Moscow  fell  easily 
into  the  hands  of  Vassali  the  blind. 

Anguish  of  body  and  of  soul  seems  now  to  have  changed 
the  nature  of  Vassali,  and  with  energy,  disinterestedness  and 
wisdom  undeveloped  before,  he  consecrated  himself  to  the 
welfare  of  his  country.  He  associated  with  himself  his  young 
son  Ivan,  who  subsequently  attained  the  title  of  the  Great. 
"  But  Chemyaka,"  writes  Karamsin,  "  still  lived,  and  his  heart, 
ferocious,  iiiq)lacable,  sought  new  means  of  vengeance.  His 
death  seemed  necessary  for  the  safety  of  the  state,  and  some 
one  gave  him  poison,  of  which  he  died  the  next  day.  The 
author,  of  an  action  so  contrary  to  religion,  to  the  principles 
of  morality  and  of  honor,  remains  unknown.  A  lawyer, 
named  Beda,  who  conveyed  the  news  of  his  death  to  Mos- 
cow,  w:is  elevated  to  tlie  rank  of  secretary  by  the  grand 


P  M  I  T  K  I  ,      r  A  S  S  A  L  I      AND     TAMERLANE.  167 

prince,  who  oxliibitecl  on  that  occasion  an  indiscreet  joy." 
On  the  14th  of  March,  1462,  Vassali  terminated  liis  eventful 
and  tumultuous  life,  at  the  age  of  forty-seven.  His  reign  Avas 
during  one  of  the  darkest  periods  in  the  Russian  annals.  Life 
to  him,  and  to  his  coteraporaries,  was  but  a  pitiless  tempest, 
through  -which  hardly  one  ray  of  sunshine  penetrated.  It 
was  under  his  reign  that  tlie  horrible  punishment  of  the  knout 
was  introduced  into  Moscow,  a  barbaric  mode  of  scourging  un- 
known to  the  ancient  Russians.  Fire-arms  were  also  begin- 
ning to  be  introduced,  which  weapons  have  diminished  rather 
than  increased  the  carnage  of  fields  of  battle. 


CHAPTER    X. 

THE    ILLUSTRIOUS    IVAN    III. 
From  1462  to  14S0. 
Ivan  III. — His  Precocity  and  IIising  Power. — The  Three  Great  Hordes. — Russian 

Exi"EDITION  AG.\INST  KeZ.VN. — DEFEAT  OF  THE  TARTARS. — CAPTURE  OF  CONSTANTI- 
NOPLE BY  THE  Turks. — The  Princess  Sophia. — Her  Journey  to  I'ussia,  and  Mar- 
riage WITH  Ivan  III. — Increasing  Renown  of  Russia. — New  Difficulty  with 
the  Horde. — The  Tartars  Invade  Russia. — Strife  on  the  Banks  of  tub  Oka. — 
Letter  of  the  Metropolitan  Bishop. — Unprecedented  Panic. — Liberation  of 
Russia. 

TN  the  middle  of  the  fifteenth  century,  Constaiitiiio])le  was 
-■-  to  Rus.sia  wliat  Paris,  in  tlie  reign  of  Louis  XIV.,  was  to 
modern  Em'ope.  Tlie  imperial  city  of  Constantine  was  the 
central  point  of  ecclesiastical  magnificence,  of  courtly  splen- 
dor, of  taste,  of  all  intellectual  culture.*  To  the  Greeks  the 
Russians  were  indebted  for  their  religion,  their  civilization 
and  their  social  culture, 

Ivan  III.,  who  had  for  some  time  been  associated  with  his 
father  in  the  government,  was  now  recognized  as  the  undis- 
puted prince  of  the  grand  principality,  though  his  sway  over 
the  other  provinces  of  Russia  was  very  feeble,  and  very  ob- 
scurely defined.  At  twelve  years  of  age,  Ivan  was  mariied  to 
Maria,  a  princess  of  Tver.  At  eighteen  years  of  age  he  was 
tiie  father  of  a  son,  to  whom  he  gave  his  own  name.  When 
he  had  attained  the  age  of  twenty-two  years,  his  father  died, 
and  the  reins  of  government  passed  entirely  into  his  hands. 
From  his  earliest  years,  he  gave  indications  of  a  character  of 
much  more  than  ordinary  judgment  and  maturity.     Upon  his 

*  Karamsin,  vol.  i.v.,  p.  436. 


THE     ILLUSTRIOUS     IVAN      III.  169 

accession  to  the  throne,  he  not  only  declined  making  any  ap- 
peal to  the  khan  for  the  ratification  of  his  authority,  but  re- 
jfused  to  pay  the  tribute  which  the  horde  had  so  long  extorted. 
The  result  was,  that  the  Tartars  were  speedily  rallying  their 
forces,  with  vows  of  vengeance.  But  on  the  march,  fortu- 
nately for  Russia,  they  fell  into  a  dispute  among  themselves, 
and  exhausted  their  energies  in  mutual  slaughter. 

According  to  the  Greek  chronology,  the  world  was  then 
approaching  the  end  of  the  seven  thousandth  year  since  the 
creation,  and  the  impression  was  universal  that  the  end  of  the 
world  was  at  hand.  It  is  worthy  of  remark  tliat  this  convic- 
tion seemed  ratlier  to  increase  recklessness  and  crime  than  to 
be  promotive  of  virtue.  But  the  years  glided  on,  and  gradu- 
ally the  impression  faded  away.  Ivan,  with  extraordinary 
energy  and  sagacity,  devoted  himself  to  the  consolidation  of 
the  Russian  empire,  and  the  development  of  all  its  sources  of 
wealth.  The  refractory  princes  he  assailed  one  by  one,  and, 
favored  by  a  peculiar  combination  of  circumstances,  succeeded 
in  chastising  them  into  obedience. 

The  great  Mogol  power  was  essentially  concentrated  in 
three  immense  hordes.  All  these  three  combined  when  there 
was  a  work  of  national  importance  to  be  achieved.  The  largest 
of  the  hordes,  and  the  most  eastern,  spiead  over  a  region  of  un- 
delined  extent,  some  hundreds  of  miles  east  of  the  Caspian  Sea. 
The  most  western  occupied  a  large  territory  u))on  the  Volga 
and  the  Kama,  called  Kezan.  From  this,  thcii-  encampment, 
wliere  they  had  already  erected  many  fioui-ishing  cities,  en- 
riched by  commerce  with  India  and  Greece,  they  were  con- 
tinually ravaging  the  frontiers  of  Russia,  often  })enetrating  the 
country  three  or  four  hundred  miles,  laying  the  largest  cities 
in  ashes,  and  then  retiring  laden  with  plunder  and  prisoners. 
This  encampment  of  the  horde  was  but  five  hundred  miles 
east  of  Moscow;  but  much  of  the  country  directly  intervening 
was  an  uninhabited  waste,  so  great  was  the  terror  which  the 
barbarians  inspired. 


170  TUE     EMPIRE     OF     RUSSIA. 

Ivan  resolved  to  take  Kezan  from  the  horde.  It  was  the 
boldest  resolve  which  any  Russian  prince  had  conceived  for 
ages.  All  the  mechanics  in  the  great  cities  which  lined  the 
banks  of  the  upper  Volga  and  the  Oka,  were  employed  in 
constructing  barges,  which  were  armed  with  the  most  ap- 
proved instruments  of  war.  The  enthusiasm  of  Russia  was 
roused  to  the  highest  pitch  by  this  naval  expedition,  which 
presented  a  spectacle  as  novel  as  it  was  magnificent  and  excit- 
ing. 

War  has  its  pageantry  as  well  as  its  woe.  The  two  flo- 
tillas, with  fluttering  pennants  and  resounding  music,  and 
crowded  with  gayly-dressed  and  sanguine  warriors,  floated 
down  the  streams  until  they  met,  at  tlie  confluence  of  these 
rivers,  near  Nizni  Novgorod.  Here  the  two  fleets,  covering 
the  Volga  for  many  leagues,  were  united.  Spreading  their 
sails,  they  passed  rapidly  down  the  river  about  two  hundred 
miles,  until  they  arrived  at  Kezan,  the  capital  of  the  horde. 
Deeming  their  enterprise  a  religious  one,  in  which  the  cross 
of  Christ  was  to  be  planted  against  the  banners  of  the  infidel, 
they  all  partook  of  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  and 
engaged  in  the  most  earnest  exercises  of  devotion  the  evening 
before  they  reached  tlieir  place  of  landing. 

In  those  days  intelligence  was  only  transmitted  by  means 
of  couriers,  at  vast  expense,  and  either  accompanied  by  an 
army  or  by  a  strong  body  guard.  The  Mogols  had  no  suspi- 
cion of  tlie  lem])est  which  was  about  to  break  over  their  heads. 
On  the  21st  of  May,  1469,  before  the  dawn  of  tlie  morning, 
t!ie  Russians  leaped  upon  the  shore  near  Kezan,  the  capital, 
and  with  truiiijiet  blasts  and  nj»}ialling  cries,  I'ushed  uj)uu  tlie 
shjepiiig  inhabitants.  WiLliout  resistance  they  j)eneti"ated  the 
streets.  The  Russians,  in  war,  were  as  barbaric  as  the  Tar- 
tars. The  city  was  set  on  fire;  indisciiminate  slaughter  en- 
sued, and  awful  vengeance  was  taken  for  the  woes  which  the 
horde  had  for  ages  inflicted  upon  Russia.  But  few  escaped. 
Those  who  fell  not  by  the  sword  perished  in  the  flames.   Many 


THE     ILLUSTRIOUS      IVAN      III.  171 

Russian  prisoners  were  found  in  the  city  who  had  been  in 
slavery  for  years. 

Thus  far,  success,  exceeding  the  most  sanguine  anticipa- 
tions, had  accompanied  tlie  enterprise.  Tlie  victorious  Rus- 
sians, burdened  wich  the  phiiider  of  the  city,  reembarked, 
and,  descending  tlie  river  some  distance,  landed  upon  an 
island  which  presented  every  attraction  for  a  party  of  pleas- 
ure, and  there  they  passed  a  week  in  rest,  in  feasting  and  in 
all  festive  joys.  Ibrahim,  prince  of  the  horde,  escaped  the 
general  carnage,  and,  in  a  few  days,  rallied  such  a  force  of 
cavalry  as  to  make  a  fierce  assault  upon  the  invaders.  The 
strife  continued,  from  morning  until  night,  without  any  de- 
cisive results,  when  both  parties  were  glad  to  seek  repose, 
with  the  Volga  flowing  between  them.  The  next  morning 
neither  were  willing  to  renew  the  combat.  Ibrahim  soon  had 
a  flotilla  upon  the  Volga  nearly  equal  to  that  of  the  Russians. 
The  war  now  raged,  embittered  by  every  passion  which  can 
goad  the  soul  of  man  to  madness. 

One  of  the  Russian  princes,  a  man  of  astonishing  nerve 
and  agility,  in  one  of  these  conflicts  sprang  into  a  Tartar  boat, 
smiting,  with  his  war  club,  upon  the  right  hand  and  the  left, 
and,  leaping  from  boat  to  boat  of  the  foe,  warded  oft'  every 
blow,  striking  down  multitudes,  until  he  finally  returned,  in 
safety,  to  his  own  flotilla,  cheered  by  the  huzzas  of  his  troops. 
The  Mogols  were  punished,  not  subdued  ;  but  this  punish- 
ment, so  unexpected  and  severe,  was  quite  a  new  experience 
for  them.  The  Russian  troops,  elated  with  their  success, 
returned  to  Nizni  Novgorod.  In  the  autumn,  Ivan  III.  sent 
another  army,  under  the  command  of  his  two  brothers,  Youri 
and  Andre,  to  cooperate  with  the  troops  in  Ni/ni  Novgorod 
in  a  new  exj)edition.  This  army  left  Moscow  in  two  divis- 
ions, one  of  which  marched  across  the  country,  and  the  other 
descended  the  Volga  in  barges.  Ibrahim  had  made  every 
eff"ort  in  his  power  to  prepare  to  rei)el  the  invasion.  A 
decisive    battle   was   fought.     The   Mogols,    completely  van- 


172  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

quishec],  were  compelled  to  accept  such   terms  as  the  con- 
queror condesceucled  to  grant. 

This  victory  attracted  the  attention  of  Europe,  and  the 
great  monarchies  of  the  southern  portion  of  the  continent 
began  to  regard  Russia  as  an  infant  power  which  might  yet 
rise  to  importance.  Another  event  at  tliis  time  occurred 
which  brought  Russia  still  more  prominently  into  the  view  of 
the  nations  of  the  South.  In  the  year  1467,  the  grand  prince, 
with  tears  of  anguish,  buried  his  young  and  beautiful  spouse. 
Five  years  of  widowhood  had  passed  away.  The  Turks  had 
overrun  Asia  Minor,  and,  crossing  the  Hellespont  under  Mo- 
hammed 11.,  with  bloody  cimeter  had  taken  Constantino})le  by 
storm,  cutting  down  sixty  thousand  of  its  inhabitants,  and 
bringing  all  Greece  under  the  Turkish  sway.  The  Moham- 
medan placed  his  heel  upon  the  head  of  the  Christian,  and 
Constantinople  became  the  caj^ital  of  Moslem  jjower.  This 
was  in  the  year  1472. 

Constantin  Paleologue  was  the  last  of  the  Grecian  em- 
perors. One  of  his  brothers,  Thomas,  escaping  from  the 
ruins  of  liis  country,  fled  to  Rome,  where,  in  consideration  of 
his  illustrious  rank  and  lineage,  he  received  a  large  monthly 
stipend  from  the  pope.  Thomas  had  a  daughter,  Sophia,  a 
princess  of  rare  beauty,  and  richly  endowed  with  all  mental 
graces  and  attractions.  The  pope  souglit  a  spouse  worthy  of 
this  princess,  who  was  the  descendant  of  a  long  line  of  era- 
])ei-ors.  Moliammed  II.,  having  overrun  all  Greece,  fluslied 
with  victory,  was  collecting  his  forces  for  the  invasion  of  tlie 
Italian  peninsula,  and  his  vaunt,  that  he  would  feed  his  horse 
from  the  altar  of  St.  Feter''s,  had  thrilled  the  ear  of  Catholic 
Europe.  The  pope,  Paul  II.,  anxious  to  rouse  all  the  Chris- 
tian powers  against  the  Turks,  wished  to  make  the  marriage 
of  the  Grecian  prmcess  promotive  of  his  political  views.  Her 
beauty,  her  genius  and  her  exalted  birth  rendered  her  a  rare 
prize. 

Rumors  had  reached  Rome  of  the  vast  population  and 


TUB     ILLUSTRIOUS      IVAN      III.  Il3 

extraortlinfirv  wealth  of  Russia  ;  nearly  all  the  great  Russian 
rivers  eni{)tie(l  into  the  Black  Sea,  and  along  these  channels 
the  Russian  flotillas  could  easily  descend  upon  the  conquerors 
of  Constaiithiople ;  Russia  was  united  witli  Greece  by  the  ties 
of  the  same  religion,  and  the  recent  victory  over  the  Tartars 
had  given  the  grand  j^rince  great  renown.  Tliese  considera- 
tions influenced  the  pope  to  send  an  embassador  to  Moscow, 
proposing  to  Ivan  III.  the  hand  of  Sophia.  To  increase  the 
apparent  value  of  the  oifer,  tlie  embassador  was  authorized  to 
state  that  the  princess  had  refused  the  hand  of  the  King  of 
France,  and  also  of  the  Duke  of  Milan,  she  being  unwilling,  as 
a  member  of  the  Greek  church,  to  ally  herself  with  a  prince 
of  the  Latin  religion. 

Nothing  could  have  been  more  attractive  to  Ivan  III.,  and 
his  nobles,  than  this  alliance.  "  God  himself,"  exclaimed  a 
bishop,  "  must  have  conferred  the  gift.  She  is  a  shoot  froni 
an  imperial  tree  which  fc)rmerly  overspread  all  orthodox 
Christians.  This  alliance  Avill  make  Moscow  another  Con- 
stantinople, and  will  confer  upon  our  sovereign  the  rights  of 
the  Giecian  empeiors." 

The  grand  pi'ince,  not  deeming  it  decorous  to  appear  too 
eager,  and  yet  solicitous  lest  he  might  lose  the  prize,  sent  an 
embassador,  with  a  numerous  suite,  to  Rome,  with  a  letter  to 
the  pope,  and  to  report  more  particularly  respecting  the 
princess,  not  forgetting  to  biing  him  her  portrait.  This  em- 
bassage was  speedily  followed  by  another,  authorized  to  com- 
plete the  arrangements.  The  embassadors  were  received 
with  signal  honors  by  Sextus  IV,,  who  had  just  succeeded 
Paul  II.,  and  at  length  it  was  solemnly  announced,  in  a  full 
conclave  of  cardinals,  on  the  22d  of  May,  1472,  that  the 
Russian  prince  wished  to  espouse  Sophia.  Some  of  tlie 
cardinals  ol>jected  to  the  orthodoxy  of  Ivan  III. ;  hut  the 
pope  replied  that  it  was  by  condescension  and  kindmss  alone 
that  they  could  hope  to  open  the  eyes  of  one  spiritually 
blind  ;  a  sentiment  which  it  is  to  bo  regretted  that  the  court 


174  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

of  Rome  and  also  all  other  communions  have  too  often  ig- 
nored. 

On  the  1st  of  June  the  princess  was  sacredly  affianced  in 
the  church  of  St.  Peter's  to  the  prince  of  Moscow,  the  em- 
bassadors of  Ivan  III.  assuring-  the  pope  of  the  zeal  of  their 
monarch  for  the  happy  reunion  of  the  Greek  and  Latin 
churches.  The  pope  conferred  a  very  rich  dowry  u})on 
Sophia,  and  sent  his  legate  to  accompany  her  to  Russia,  at- 
tended by  a  splendid  suite  of  the  most  illustrious  Romans. 
The  affianced  princess  had  a  sjiecial  court  or  her  own,  with 
its  functionaries  of  every  grade,  and  its  established  etiquette. 
A  large  number  of  Greeks  followed  her  to  Moscow,  hoping 
to  find  in  that  distant  capital  a  second  country.  Directions 
were  given  by  the  jjope  that,  in  every  city  through  which 
she  should  pass,  the  princess  should  receive  the  honors  due 
to  her  rank,  and  that,  especially  throughout  Italy  and  Ger- 
many, she  should  be  furnished  with  entertainment,  relays  of 
horses  and  guides,  until  she  should  ai'rive  at  the  frontiers  of 
Russia. 

Sophia  left  Rome  on  the  24th  of  August,  and  after  a  rapid 
journey  of  six  days,  arrived,  on  the  1st  of  September,  at 
Lubec,  on  the  extreme  southern  shore  of  the  Baltic.  Here 
she  remained  ten  days,  and  on  the  10th  of  September  em- 
barked in  a  ship  expressly  and  gorgeously  equipped  for  her 
accommodation.  A  sail  of  eight  hundred  miles  along  the 
Baltic  Sea,  which  occupied  twenty  days,  conveyed  the  2Ji'in- 
cess  to  Itcvel,  near  the  mouth  of  the  Gulf  of  Finland.  Ar- 
riving at  this  city  on  the  30th  of  September,  she  remained 
there  ibr  rest,  ten  days,  during  which  time  she  was  regaled 
Avith  the  utmost  magnificence  by  the  authorities  of  the  place. 
Couriers  had  been  immediately  dispatched,  by  the  way  of 
Novgorod,  to  IMoscow,  to  inform  the  prince  of  her  arrival. 
Her  joui-ney  irom  Revel  to  lake  Tchoude  i:)resented  but  a 
continued  triumphal  show.  On  the  11th  of  October  she 
reached   the  shores  of  the  lake.     A  flotilla  of  barges,  deco- 


THE     ILLUSTRIOUS      IVAN     III.  175 

rated  with  garlands  and  pennants,  here  awaited  her.  A 
pleasant  sail  of  two  days  conveyed  her  across  the  lake.  Im- 
mediately upon  landing  at  Pskov,  she  repaired,  with  all  her 
I'etinue,  to  the  church  of  Notre  Dame,  to  give  thanks  to 
Heaven  for  the  prosperity  which  had  thus  far  attended  her 
journey.  From  the  church  she  was  conducted  to  the  palace 
of  the  prince  of  that  province,  where  she  received  from  the 
nobles  many  precious  gifts. 

After  a  live  days'  sojourn  nt  Pskov,  she  left  the  city  to  con- 
tinue her  journey.  Upon  taking  her  departure,  she  aroused 
the  enthusiasm  of  the  citizens  by  the  following  words: 

"  I  must  hasten  to  present  myself  before  your  prince  who 
is  soon  to  be  mine.  I  thank  the  magistrates,  the  nobles  and 
the  citizens  generally  for  the  reception  which  they  have  given 
nie,  and  I  promise  never  to  neglect  to  plead  the  cause  of 
Pskov  at  the  court  of  Moscow." 

At  Novgorod  she  was  again  entertained  with  all  the 
splendor  which  Russian  opulence  and  art  cotild  display.  The 
Russian  winter  had  already  commenced,  and  the  piincess 
entered  Moscow,  in  a  sledge,  on  the  12th  of  November.  An 
innumerable  crowd  accompanied  her.  She  was  welcomed  at 
the  gates  of  the  city  by  the  meti-opolitan  bishop,  who  con- 
ducted her  to  the  church,  where  she  received  his  benediction. 
She  w^as  then  presented  to  the  mother  of  the  grand  j)rince, 
who  introduced  her  to  her  future  spouse.  Immediately  the 
marriage  ceremony  was  performed  with  the  most  imposing 
pomp  of  the  Greek  church. 

This  marriage  contributed  much  in  making  Russia  better 
known  throughout  Euroi)e.  In  that  age,  tixr  more  than  now, 
exalted  birth  was  esteemed  the  greatest  of  earthly  honors  ;  and 
Sophia,  the  daughter  of  a  long  line  of  emperors,  ^v•as  ibllowed 
by  the  eyes  of  every  court  in  Eui-ope  to  her  distant  destina- 
tion. Moreover,  many  (4reeks,  of  high  aesthetic  and  intellec- 
tual culture,  exiled  from  their  country  by  the  domination  of 
the  Turk,  followed  their  princess  to  Russia.     They,  by  their 


176  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA, 

knowledge  of  the  arts  and  sciences,  rendered  essential  service 
to  their  adopted  kingdom,  which  was  just  emerging  from 
barbarism.  They  enriched  the  libraries  by  the  books  which 
tliey  had  rescued  from  the  barbarism  of  the  Turks,  and  con- 
tributed much  to  the  eclat  of  the  court  of  Moscow  by  the 
introduction  of  the  pompous  ceremonies  of  the  Grecian  court. 
Indeed,  from  this  date  Moscow  was  often  called  a  second 
Constantinople.  The  capital  was  rapidly  embellished  with 
l)alaces  and  churches,  constructed  in  the  highest  style  of 
Grecian  and  Italian  architecture.  From  Italy,  also,  mechan- 
ics were  introduced,  who  established  foundries  for  casting 
cannon,  and  mints  for  the  coinage  of  money. 

The  prominent  object  in  the  mind  of  Ivan  III.  was  the 
consolidation  of  all  the  ancient  principalities  into  one  great 
empire,  being  firmly  resolved  to  justify  the  title  which  he  had 
assumed,  o^  Sovereign  of  all  the  Russias.  He  wished  to  give 
new  vigor  to  the  monarchical  power,  to  abolish  the  ancient 
system  of  almost  independent  appanages  which  was  leading 
to  incessant  wars,  and  to  wrest  from  the  princes  those  prerog- 
atives which  limited  tlie  authority  of  the  sovereign.  This 
was  a  formidable  undertaking,  requiring  great  sagacity  and 
firmness,  but  it  would  doubtless  be  promotive  of  the  welfare 
of  Russia  to  be  under  tlie  sway  of  one  general  sovereign, 
rather  than  to  be  exposed  to  the  despotism  of  a  hundred 
})etty  and  quarrelsome  princes.  Ivan  III.  was  anxious  to 
accomplish  this  result  witliout  violating  any  treaty,  without 
committing  any  arbitrary  or  violent  act  which  could  I'ouse 
opposition. 

That  he  might  triumph  over  the  princes,  it  was  necessary 
for  him  to  secure  the  affections  of  the  people.  Tin;  )»alace  was 
consequently  I'cndered  easy  of  access  to  tliem  all.  Appointed 
days  were  consecrated  to  justice,  and,  from  morning  until 
evening,  the  grand  prince  listened  to  any  complaints  from  liis 
suV)jects.  The  old  magistrates  had  generally  forfeited  all 
claim  to  esteem.     Regarding   only  their  own  interests,  they 


THK     ILLUSTRIOUS      IVAN     III.  1T7 

trafficked  in  offices,  ilivored  tlieir  relatives,  persecuted  their 
enemies  and  surrounded  tliemselves  with  crowds  of  parasites 
who  stifled,  in  the  courts  of  justice,  all  the  conn)hiints  of  the 
oppressed.  Novgorod  was  flrst  brought  into  entire  subjection 
to  the  crown  ;  tlien  Pskov. 

While  aftairs  were  moving  thus  ]>rosperously  in  Russia,  the 
horde  upon  the  Volga  was  also  recovering  its  energies ;  and 
a  new  khan,  Akhmet,  war-loving  and  inflated  by  the  success 
which  his  sword  had  already  achieved,  resolved  to  bring  Rus- 
sia' again  into  subjection.  He  accordingly,  in  the  year  1480, 
sent  an  embassy,  bearing  an  image  of  the  khan  as  their  cre- 
dentials, to  Moscow,  to  demand  the  tribute  which  of  old  had 
been  paid  to  the  Tartars.  Ivan  III.  was  in  no  mood  to  receive 
the  insult  patiently.  He  admitted  the  embassage  into  the 
audience  chamber  of  his  palace.  His  nobles,  in  imposing 
array,  were  gathered  around  prepared  for  a  scene  such  as 
was  nut  unusual  in  those  barbaric  times.  As  soon  as  the  em- 
bassadors entered  and  were  presented,  the  image  of  the  khan 
was  daslied  to  the  floor  by  the  order  of  Ivan,  and  trampled 
under  feet;  and  all  the  Mogol  embassadors,  with  the  excep- 
tion of  one,  were  slain. 

"  Go,"  said  Ivan  ster.ily  to  him,  "  go  to  your  master  and 
tell  him  what  you  have  seen  ;  tell  him  that  if  he  has  the  hiso- 
lence  again  to  trouble  my  repose,  I  will  treat  him  as  I  have 
served  his  image  and  his  embassadors." 

This  emphatic  declaration  of  war  was  followed  on  both 
sides  by  the  mustering  of  armies  The  horde  was  soon  in  mo- 
tion, passing  from  the  Volga  to  the  Don  in  numbers  which 
were  represented  to  be  as  the  sands  of  the  sea.  They  rapidly 
and  resistlessly  ascended  the  valley  of  this  river,  maiking  their 
path  by  a  swath  of  ruin  many  miles  in  width.  The  grand 
prince  took  the  command  of  the  Russi;m  aiiiiy  in  person,  and 
rendezvoused  his  troo])S  at  Kalouga,  thence  stationing  them 
along  the  northern  banks  of  the  Oka,  to  dispute  the  passage 
of  that  stream.     All  iiussia  was  in  a  state  of  feverish  excite- 

8* 


178  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

ment.  One  decisive  battle  would  settle  the  question,  whether 
the  invaders  were  to  he  driven  in  bloody  rout  out  of  the  ein- 
pii-e,  01-,  whether  the  whole  kingdom  was  to  be  surrendered  to 
devastation  by  savages  as  tierce  and  merciless  as  wolves. 

About  the  middle  of  October  the  two  armies  met  upon  the 
opposite  banks  of  the  Oka,  with  only  the  waters  of  that  nar- 
row stream  to  separate  them.  Caimon  and  muskets  were 
then  just  coming  into  use,  but  they  were  rude  and  feeble 
instruments  compared  with  the  power  of  such  weapons  at  the 
present  day.  Swords,  arrows,  javelins,  clubs,  axes,  battering- 
rams  and  catapults,  and  the  tramplings  of  horse  were  the  en- 
gines of  destruction  which  man  then  wielded  most  potently 
against  his  fellow-man.  The  quarrel  was  a  very  simple  one. 
Some  hundreds  of  thousands  of  Mogols  had  marched  to  the 
lieart  of  Russia,  leaving  behind  tht-m  a  path  of  flame  and 
blood  nearly  a  thousand  miles  in  length,  that  they  might  com- 
pel the  Russians  to  pay  them  tribute.  Some  hundred  thou- 
sand Russians  had  met  them  there,  to  resist  even  to  death 
their  insolent  and  oppressive  demand. 

The  Tartars  were  far  superior  in  numbers  to  the  Russians, 
but  Ivan  had  made  such  a  skillful  disposition  of  his  troops  tliat 
Akhmet  could  not  cross  the  stream.  For  nearly  a  week  the 
two  armies  fought  from  the  opposite  banks,  throwing  at  each 
other  bullets,  balls,  stones,  arrows  and  javelins.  A  lew  were 
wounded  and  some  slain  in  this  im|)otent  warfare. 

The  Russians  were,  however,  very  faint-hearted.  It  was 
evident  that,  should  the  Tartars  eftect  the  passage  of  the  river, 
the  Russians,  already  demoralized  by  fear,  would  be  speedily 
overpowered.  The  grand  }>riuce  himself  was  so  apprehensive 
as  to  the  result,  that  he  sent  one  of  his  nobles  with  rich  pres- 
ents to  the  khan  and  proposed  terms  of  peace.  Akhmet  re- 
jectetl  tile  jiresents,  and  sent  back  the  haughty  reply  : 

"  I  have  come  thus  iiir  to  take  vengeance  uj)()n  Ivan ;  to 
punish  him  for  neglecting  for  nine  years  to  a])pear  belbre  me 
with  tribut,e  and  in  homage.     Let  him  come  penitently  into 


THE      ILI,  USTKIOUS      IVAN     III,  179 

my  presence  and  kiss  my  stirrup,  and  then  perhaps,  if  my 
lords  intercede  for  him,  I  may  forgive  him." 

As  soon  as  it  was  heard  in  Moscow  that  the  grand  prince 
was  manifesting  such  timidity,  the  clergy  sent  to  him  a  letter 
urging  the  vigorous  defense  of  their  country  and  of  tlieir  reli- 
gion. The  letter  was  written  by  Vassian,  the  archbishop  of 
Moscow,  and  was  signed,  on  behalf  of  the  clergy,  by  several 
of  the  higher  ecclesiastics.  "VVe  have  not  space  to  introduce 
the  whole  of  this  noble  epistle,  which  is  worthy  of  being  held 
in  perpetual  remembrance.  The  following  extracts  will  show 
its  spirit.  It  was  in  the  form  of  a  letter  from  the  archbishop 
to  the  king  ;  to  which  letter  others  of  the  clergy  gave  their 
assent : 

"  It  is  our  duty  to  announce  the  truth  to  kings,  and  that 
which  I  have  already  spoken  in  the  ear  of  your  majesty  I  now 
write,  to  inspire  you  with  new  courage  and  energy.  When, 
influenced  by  the  prayers  and  the  councils  of  your  bishop,  you 
left  Moscow  for  the  army,  with  the  firm  intention  of  attacking 
the  enemy  of  the  Christians,  we  jirostrated  ourselves  day  and 
night  befui-e  God,  pleading  with  him  to  grant  the  victory  to 
our  armies.  Nevertheless,  we  learn  that  at  the  approach  of 
Akhmet,  of  that  ferocious  warrior  who  has  already  caused 
thousands  of  Christians  to  perish,  ajid  who  menaces  your 
throne  and  your  country,  you  tremble  before  him — you  im- 
plore peace  of  him,  and  send  to  him  embassadors,  while  that 
impious  warrior  breathes  only  vengeance  and  desj^ises  youi- 
prayer, 

"Ah,  grand  prince,  to  what  counselors  have  you  lent  your 
ear  V  What  men,  unworthy  of  the  name  of  Christian,  have 
given  you  such  advice  ?  Will  you  throw  away  your  arms  and 
shamefully  take  to  flight  ?  But  reflect  from  what  a  height  of 
grandeur  your  majesty  will  descend ;  to  what  a  depth  of  hu- 
miliation you  will  iiill !  Are  you  willing,  oh  ])rince,  to  sur- 
render Russia  to  fire  and  blood,  your  churches  to  pillage,  your 
subjects  to  the  sword  of  the  enemy  ?    What  heart  is  so  insen- 


180  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

sible  as  not  to  be  overwhelmed  by  the  thouglit  even  of  such  a 
calamity '? 

"No;  we  will  trust  in  the  all-powerful  God!  No;  you 
■will  not  abandon  us !  You  will  blush  at  the  name  of  a  fugi- 
tive, of  being  the  betrayer  of  your  country.  Lay  aside  alb 
fear.  Redouble  your  confidence  in  God.  Then  one  shall 
chase  a  thousand,  and  two  shall  put  ten  thousand  to  flight. 
There  is  no  God  like  ours.  Do  you  say  that  the  oath, 
taken  by  your  ancestors,  binds  you  not  to  raise  your  arms 
against  the  khan?  But  we,  your  metropolitan  bishop,  and  all 
the  other  bishops,  representatives  of  Jesus  Christ,  absolve  you 
from  that  oath,  extorted  by  force ;  we  all  give  you  our  bene- 
diction, and  conjure  you  to  march  against  Akhmet,  who  is  but 
a  brigand  and  an  enemy  of  God. 

"  God  is  a  Father  full  of  tenderness  lor  his  children.  He 
knows  when  to  punish  and  when  to  pardon.  And  if  formerly 
he  submerged  Phai-aoh  to  save  the  children  of  Israel,  he  will, 
in  the  same  manner,  save  you  and  your  people,  if  you  purify 
your  lieart  by  penitence,  for  you  are  a  man  and  a  sinner.  The 
penitence  of  a  monarch  is  his  sacred  obligation  to  obey  the 
laws  of  justice,  to  cherish  his  people,  to  renounce  every  act 
of  violence,  and  grant  pardon  even  to  the  guilty.  It  is  thus 
that  God  will  elevate  you  among  us,  as  formerly  he  elevated 
Moses,  Joshua  and  the  other  liberators  of  Israel,  that  Russia, 
a  new  Israel,  may  be  delivered  by  you  from  the  impious  Akh- 
met, that  other  Pharaoh. 

"  I  pray  you,  grand  prince,  do  not  censure  me  for  my 
feeble  words,  lor  it  is  written,  '  Give  instruction  to  a  wise 
man  and  he  will  be  yet  wiser.'*  So  may  it  be.  Receive  our 
benediction,  you  and  your  children,  all  the  nobles  and  chief 
tains,  and  all  your  brave  warriors,  children  of  Jesus  Christ. 
Amen." 

This  letter,  instead  of  giving  the   king   offense,  inspired 
him  with  new  zeal  and  courage.     He  immediately  abandoned 
*  Proverbs  of  Solomon,  ix.  9. 


THE     ILLUSTRIOUS      IVAN      III.  181 

all  idea  of  peace.  A  fortnight  had  now  passed  in  comparative 
inaction,  the  Russians  and  Tartars  menacing  each  other  from 
opposite  sides  of  the  stream.  The  cold  month  of  November 
had  now  come,  and  a  thin  coating  of  ice  began  to  spread  over 
the  surface  of  the  stream.  It  was  evident  that  Akhmet  was 
only  waiting  for  the  river  to  be  frozen  over,  and  that,  in  a  few 
days,  he  would  be  able  to  cross  at  any  point.  The  grand 
prince,  seeing  that  the  decisive  battle  could  not  much  longer 
be  deferred,  ordered  his  troops,  in  the  night,  to  make  a 
change  of  position,  that  he  might  occupy  the  plains  of  Boros-k 
as  a  field  more  favorable  for  his  troops.  But  the  Russian 
soldiers,  still  agitated  by  the  fears  which  their  sovereign  had 
not  been  able  to  conceal,  regarded  this  order  as  the  signal  for 
retreat.  The  panic  spread  from  rank  to  rank,  and,  favored  by 
the  obscurity  of  the  night,  soon  the  whole  host,  in  the  wildest 
confusion,  were  in  rapid  flight.  No  eiforts  of  the  offlcers 
could  arrest  the  dismay.  Before  the  morning,  the  Russian 
camp  was  entirely  deserted,  and  the  fugitives  were  rushing, 
like  an  inundation,  up  the  valley  of  the  Moskwa  toward  the 
imperial  city. 

But  God  did  not  desert  Russia  in  this  decisive  liour.  He 
appeal's  to  have  heard  and  answered  the  prayers  whicli  had 
so  incessantly  ascended.  In  the  Russian  annals,  their  pres- 
ervation is  wholly  attributed  to  the  interposition  of  that  God 
whose  aid  the  bishops,  the  clergy  and  Christian  men  and 
women  in  lum(b-eds  of  churches  had  so  earnestly  implored. 
The  Tartars,  seeing,  in  the  earliest  dawn  of  the  morning,  the 
banks  of  the  river  entirely  abandoned  by  the  Russians,  im- 
agined that  the  ilight  was  but  a  ruse  of  war,  that  ambuscades 
were  ]>repared  for  them,  and,  remembering  previous  scenes 
of  exterminating  slaughter,  tliey,  also,  were  seized  with  a 
panic,  and  commenced  a  retreat.  This  movement  itself 
increased  the  alarm.  Terror  spread  rapidly.  In  an  hour, 
the  whole  Tartar  host,  abandoning  their  touts  and  their  bag- 
gage, were  in  tumultuous  flight. 


182  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

As  the  sun  rose,  an  unprecedented  spectacle  was  pre- 
sented. Two  immense  armies  were  flying  from  each  other  in 
indescribable  confusion  and  dismay,  each  actually  frightened 
out  of  its  wits,  and  no  one  pursuing  either.  The  Russians 
did  not  stop  for  a  long  breath  until  they  attained  the  walls  of 
Moscow.  Akhmet,  having  reached  the  head  Avaters  of  the 
Don,  retreated  rapidly  down  that  stream,  wreaking  such 
vengeance  as  he  could  by  the  way,  but  not  venturing  to  stop 
until  he  had  reached  his  strongholds  upon  the  banks  of  the 
Volga.  Thus,  singularly,  providentially^  terminated  this  last 
serious  invasion  of  Russia  by  the  Tartars.  A  Russian  annal- 
ist, in  attributing  the  glory  of  this  well-authenticated  event 
all  to  God,  writes :  "  Sliall  men,  vain  and  feeble,  celebrate  the 
teri-or  of  their  arms  '?  No  !  it  is  not  to  the  might  of  earth's 
wariiors,  it  is  not  to  human  wisdom  that  Russia  owes  her 
safety,  but  only  to  the  goodness  of  God." 

Ivan  III.,  in  the  cathedrals  of  Moscow,  offered  long  con- 
tinued praises  to  God  for  this  victory,  obtained  without  the 
effusion  of  blood.  An  annual  festival  was  established  in  honor 
of  this  great  event.  Akhmet,  witli  his  troops  disorganized 
and  scattered,  had  hardly  reached  the  Volga,  ere  he  was  at- 
tacked by  a  rival  khan,  who  drove  him  some  five  hundred 
miles  south  to  the  shore  of  the  Sea  of  Azof.  Here  his  rival 
overtook  him,  killed  him  with  his  own  hand,  took  his  wives 
and  his  daughters  captives,  seized  all  his  riches,  and  then, 
seeking  friendly  relations  with  Russia,  sent  word  to  Moscow 
that  the  great  enemy  of  the  grand  prince  was  in  his  gi-ave. 

Thus  terminated  for  ever  the  sway  of  the  Tartars  over  the 
Russians.  For  two  hundred  years,  Russia  had  been  held  by 
the  khans  in  slavery.  Though  the  horde  long  continued  to 
exist  as  a  band  of  lawless  and  uncivilized  men,  often  engaged 
in  piedatory  excursions,  no  further  attempts  were  made  to 
exact  either  tribute  or  homage. 


CHAPTER    XI. 

THE     REIGN    OP    VASSILI 
From  1480  to  1533. 

A  -LiANCE  WITH  Hungary. — A  Traveler  from  Germany. — Treaty  Between'  Russia 
AND  Germany. — Embassage  to  Turkey. — Court  Etiquette. — Death  op  the 
Princess  Sophia. — Death  of  Ivan. — Advancement  op  Knowledge. — Succession 
of  Vassai.i. — Attack  Upon  the  Horde. — Rout  of  the  Russians. — The  Grand 
Prince  Takf-s  the  Title  of  Emperor. — Turkish  Envoy  to  Moscow. — Efforts  to 
Ar.m  Europe  Against  the  Turks. — Death  of  the  Emperor  Maximiuan,  and 
Accession  of  Charles  V.  to  the  E.mpire  of  Germany. — Death  of  Vassili. 

'  pHE  retreat  of  the  Tartars  did  not  redound  much  to  the 
-L  glory  of  Ivan.  The  citizens  of  Moscow,  in  the  mid.st  of 
their  rejoicing.s,  were  tar  from  being  satisfied  with  their  sov- 
ereign. They  thought  that  he  had  not  exhibited  that  courage 
wliich  characterizes  grand  souls,  and  that  he  had  been  signally 
wanting  in  that  devotion  which  leads  one  to  sacrifice  himself 
for  the  good  of  his  countiy.  They  lavished,  however,  their 
praises  upon  the  clergy,  especially  upon  the  Archbishop  Vas- 
sian,  whose  letter  to  the  grand  prince  was  read  and  re-read 
throughout  the  kingdom  with  the  greatest  enthusiasm.  This 
noble  prelate,  whose  Christian  heroism  had  saved  his  country, 
soon  after  fell  sick  and  died,  deplored  by  all  Russia. 

Hungary  was  at  this  time  governed  by  Matthias,  son  of 
the  renowned  Ilunniades,*  a  prince  equally  renowned  for  his 
valor  and  his  genius.  Matthias,  thieatened  by  Poland,  sent 
cmbassadoi-s  to  Russia  to  seek  alliance  with  Ivan  III.  Eager- 
ly Russia  accepted  the  pi-uposilion,  and  ent(;red  into  friendly 
connections  wilh  iriuigary,  whicli  kingdom  was  then,  in  civil- 
ization, quite  in  advance  of  the  northern  empire. 
*  Soo  Empire  of  Austria,  p.  71. 


184  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

In  the  year  1486,  an  illustrious  cavalier,  named  Nicholas 
Poppel,  visited  Russia,  taking  a  letter  of  introduction  to  the 
grand  prince  from  Frederic  III.,  Emperor  of  Germany.  He 
had  no  particular  mission,  and  was  led  only  Jby  motives  of 
curiosity.  "  I  have  seen,"  said  the  traveler,  "  all  the  Chris- 
tian countries  and  all  the  kings,  and  I  wished,  also,  to  see 
Russia  and  the  grand  prince." 

The  lords  at  Moscow  had  no  faith  in  these  words,  and 
were  persuaded  that  he  was  a  spy  sent  by  their  enemy,  the 
King  of  Poland.  Though  they  watched  him  narrowly,  he  was 
not  incommoded,  and  left  the  kingdom  after  having  satisfied 
his  desire  to  see  all  that  Avas  remarkable.  His  report  to  the 
German  emperor  was  such  that,  two  years  after,  he  returned, 
in  the  quality  of  an  embassador  from  Frederic  IH.,  witli  a 
letter  to  Ivan  III.,  dated  Ulm,  December  26th,  1488.  The 
nobles  now  received  Pop})el  witli  great  cordiality.  He  said 
to  them  : 

"After  liaving  left  Russia,  I  went  to  find  the  emperor  and 
the  princes  of  Germany  at  Nuremburg.  I  spent  a  long  time 
giving  them  information  respecting  your  country  and  the 
grand  prince.  I  corrected  the  false  impression,  conceived  by 
them,  that  Ivan  III.  was  but  the  vassal  of  Casimir,  King  of 
Poland.  'That  is  impossible,'  I  said  to  them.  'The  monarch 
of  Moscow  is  much  more  powerful  and  much  richer  than  the 
King  of  Poland.  His  estates  are  immense,  his  people  numer- 
ous, his  wisdom  extraordinary.'  All  the  court  listened  to  me 
with  astonishment,  and  especially  the  empei-or  himself,  who 
often  invited  me  to  dine,  and  passed  hours  with  me  convers- 
ing upon  Russia.  At  length,  the  emperor,  desiring  to  enter 
into  an  aUiance  with  the  grand  prince,  has  sent  me  to  the 
court  of  your  majesty  as  his  embassador." 

He  then  solicited,  in  the  name  of  Fi-ederic  III.,  the  band 
of  Ivan's  daughter,  Helen,  for  the  nephew  of  the  emperor, 
Albert,  margrave  of  Baden.  The  proposition  for  the  mar- 
ri:ige  of  the  daughter  of  the  grand   prince  with  a  mere  mar- 


THE     KEIGN     OF     VASSILI.  185 

grave  was  coldly  received,  Ivan,  however,  sent  an  embassa- 
dor to  Germany  with  the  folio  »ving  instructions  : 

"  Should  the  emperor  ask  if  the  grand  prince  will  consent 
to  the  marriage  of  his  daughter  with  the  margrave  of  Baden, 
reply  that  such  an  alliance  is  not  worthy  of  the  grandeur  of 
the  Russian  monarch,  brother  of  the  ancient  emperors  of 
Greece,  who,  in  establishing  themselves  at  Constantinople, 
ceded  the  city  of  Rome  to  the  popes.  Leave  the  emperor, 
however,  to  see  that  there  is  some  hope  of  success  should  lie 
desire  one  of  our  princesses  for  his  son,  the  King  Maximilian." 

The  Russian  embassador  was  received  in  Gei-many  with 
the  most  flattering  attentions,  even  being  conducted  to  a  seat 
upon  the  throne  by  the  side  of  the  emperoi-.  It  is  said  that 
Maximilian,  who  was  then  a  widower,  wished  to  marry  Helen, 
the  daughter  of  the  grand  prince,  but  he  wished,  very  natu- 
rally, first  to  see  her  through  the  eyes  of  his  embassador,  and 
to  ascertain  the  amount  of  her  dowry.  To  this  request  a 
polite  refusal  was  returned. 

"  How  could  one  suppose,"  writes  the  Russian  historian 
Karamsin,  "  that  an  illustrious  monarch  and  a  princess,  his 
daughter,  could  consent  to  the  aflfron-t  of  submitting  the 
princess  to  the  judgment  of  a  foreign  minister,  who  might 
declare  her  unworthy  of  his  master  ?" 

The  pride  of  the  Russian  court  was  touched,  and  the 
emperor's  embassador  was  informed,  in  very  plain  language, 
that  the  grand  iirinee  was  not  at  all  disposed  to  make  a 
matter  of  merchandise  of  his  daughter — that,  after  her  mar- 
riaL,^',  the  grand  j)rince  would  present  her  with  a  dowry  such 
as  he  should  deem  projiortionate  to  the  rank  of  the  united 
pair,  and  that,  above  all,  should  she  marry  Maximilian,  she 
should  not  change  her  religion,  but  should  always  have 
residing  with  her  chaidains  of  the  Greek  church.  Thus 
terminated  the  question  of  the  marriage.  A  treaty,  however, 
of  alliance  was  formed  between  the  two  nations  which  was 
signed  at  Moscow,  August  16th,  1400.     In  this  treaty,  Ivan 


1 8G  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

III.  subscribes  himself,  "  by  tlie  grace  of  Go<l,  inonarcli  of 
all  the  Russias.  prince  of  Vladimir,  Moscow,  Novgorod, 
Pskof,  Yougra,  Viatha,  Perme  and  Bulgaria."  We  thus  see 
what  portion  of  the  country  was  then  deemed  subject  to  his 
sway. 

Iv^an  III.,  continually  occupied  in  extending,  consolidating 
and  developing  the  resources  of  his  vast  empire,  could  not 
but  look  with  jealousy  upon  the  encroachments  of  the  Turks, 
who  had  already  overrun  all  Greece,  who  had  taken  a  large 
part  of  Hungary,  and  who  were  sui-ging  up  the  Danube  in 
wave  after  wave  of  ten-ible  invasion.  Still,  sound  judgment 
taught  him  that  the  hour  had  not  yet  come  for  him  to  inter- 
pose ;  that  it  was  his  present  policy  to  devote  all  his  energies 
to  the  increase  of  Russian  wealth  and  power.  It  was  a  mat- 
ter of  the  first  importance  that  Russia  should  enjoy  the 
privileges  of  commerce  with  those  cities  of  Greece  now  oc- 
cupied by  the  Turks,  to  which  Russia  had  access  through  the 
Dnieper  and  the  Don,  and  partially  through  the  vast  floods 
of  the  Volga.  But  the  Russian  merchants  were  incessantly 
annoyed  by  the  oppression  of  the  lawless  Turks.  The  follow- 
ing letter  from  Ivan  III.  to  the  Sultan  Bajazet  II.,  gives  one 
a  very  clear  idea  of  the  relations  existing  between  the  two 
countries  at  that  time.  It  is  dated  Moscow,  August  31st, 
1492. 

"  To  Bajnzet,  Sultan,  King  of  the  princes  of  Turkey, 
Sovereign  of  the  earth  and  of  the  sea,  we,  Ivan  III.,  by  the 
grace  of  God,  only  true  and  hereditary  monarch  of  all  the 
Russias,  and  of  many  other  countries  of  the  North  and  of 
the  East ;  behold !  that  which  we  deem  it  our  duty  to  write 
to  your  majesty.  We  have  never  sent  embassadors  to  each 
other  Avith  friendly  greetings.  Nevertheless,  the  Russian 
merchants  have  traversed  your  estates  in  the  exercise  of  a 
iraftic  advantageous  to  both  of  our  empires.  Often  they  com- 
]tlain  to  me  of  the  vexations  they  encounter  from  your  magis- 
trates, but.  I  have  kept  silence.     The  last  sunnner,  the  pacha 


THE      REIGN      OF     V  A  S  S  1  L  I  .  187 

of  Azof  forced  them  to  dig  a  ditch,  and  to  carry  stones  for 
the  construction  of  the  edifices  of  the  city ;  more  than  tliis, 
they  have  coni2)elled  our  merchants  of  Azof  and  of  Caffii  to 
dispose  of  their  merchandise  for  one  half  their  value.  If  any 
one  of  the  merchants  happens  to  fall  sick,  the  magistrates 
place  seals  upon  the  goods  of  all,  and,  if  he  dies,  the  State 
seizes  all  these  goods,  and  restores  but  half  if  he  recover. 
No  regard  is  paid  to  the  clauses  of  a  will,  the  Turkish  magis- 
trates recognizing  no  heirs  but  themselves  to  the  property  of 
the  Russians. 

"  Such  glaring  injustice  has  compelled  me  to  forbid  my 
merchants  to  engage  in  traffic  in  your  country.  Fi'om  whence 
come  these  acts  of  violence  ?  Formerly  these  merchants  ])aid 
only  the  legal  tax,  and  they  were  permitted  to  trade  without 
annoyance.  Are  you  aware  of  tliis,  or  not  ?  One  word  more. 
Mahomet  II.,  your  father,  was  a  prince  of  grandeur  and  re- 
nown. He  wished,  it  is  reported,  to  send  to  us  embassadors, 
proposing  friendly  relations.  Providence  frustrated  the  exe- 
cution of  this  project.  But  why  should  we  not  now  see  the 
accomplishment  of  this  plan  ?     We  await  your  response." 

The  Russian  embassador  received  orders  from  Ivan  III.  to 
present  his  document  to  the  sultan,  standing,  and  not  upon 
his  knees,  as  was  the  custom  in  the  Turkish  court;  he  was  not 
to  yield  precedence  to  the  embassador  of  any  other  nation 
whatever,  and  was  to  address  himself  only  to  the  sultan,  and 
not  to  the  pachas.  Plestchief,  the  Russian  envoy,  obeyed  his 
instiuctioiis  to  the  letter,  and  by  his  haughty  bearing  excited 
the  indignation  of  the  Turkish  nobles.  The  i)acha  of  Constan- 
tinople i-eceived  him  with  great  j)()liteness,  loaded  him  with 
attentions,  invited  him  to  dine,  and  begged  liim  to  accej)t  of  a 
present  of  some  rich  dresses,  and  a  purse  of  ten  thousand 
sequins.  Tlie  haughty  Russian  decliiTed  the  invitrition  to 
dine,  returning  the  ])urse  and  the  robes  with  the  ungracious 
response, 

"  I  have  nothing  to  say  to  pachas.     I  have  no  need    to 


188  THE     EMPIRE     OF     RUSSIA. 

wear  their  clothes,  neitlier  have  I  nny  need  of  tlieir  money.  I 
wish  only  to  speak  to  the  sultan." 

Notwithstanding  this  arrogance,  Bajazet  II.,  the  sultan, 
received  Plestchief  politely,  and  returned  a  conciliatory  an- 
swer to  the  grand  prince,  promising  the  redress  of  those  griev- 
ances of  which  he  com[)laiiied.  The  Turk  was  decidedly 
more  civilized  tlian  the  Christian.  He  wrote  to  Mengli  Gliirei, 
the  pacha  of  the  Crimea,  where  most  of  these  annoyances 
had  occurred  : 

''  The  monarch  of  Russia,  with  whom  I  desire  to  live  in 
friendly  relations,  has  sent  to  me  a  clown.  I  can  not  conse- 
quently allow  any  of  my  people  to  accompany  him  back  to 
Russia,  lest  they  should  tiud  him  offensive.  Respected  as  I 
am  from  the  east  to  the  w^est,  I  blush  in  being  exposed  to  such 
an  affront.  It  is  in  consequence  my  Avish  that  my  son,  the 
sultan  of  Caifa,  should  corresjjond  directly  with  the  grand 
pi-ince  of  Moscow." 

With  a  sense  of  delicacy  as  attractive  as  it  is  rare,  Bajazet 
II.  refrained  from  complaining  of  the  boorishness  of  the  Rus- 
sian envoy,  but  wrote  to  the  grand  prince,  Ivan  III.,  in  the  fol- 
lowing courteous  terms : 

"  You  have  sent,  in  the  sincerity  of  your  soul,  one  of  your 
lords  to  the  threshold  of  my  palace.  He  has  seen  me  and  has 
handed  me  your  lettei',  which  I  have  pressed  to  my  lieart, 
since  you  have  expressed  a  desire  to  become  my  friend.  Let 
your  embassadors  and  your  merchants  no  longer  fear  to  fre- 
quent our  country.  They  have  only  to  come  to  certify  to  the 
veracity  of  all  which  your  envoy  will  report  to  you  from  us. 
May  God  grant  him  a  prosperous  journey  and  the  grace  to 
convey  to  you  our  profound  salutation — to  you  and  to  your 
friends;  ibr  those  whom  you  love  are  equally  dear  to  us." 

In  the  whole  of  tliis  transaction  the  Turkish  court  appears 
far  superior  to  the  Russian  in  the  refinements  and  graces  of 
polished  life.  There  seems  to  be  something  in  a  southern 
clime  which  ameliorates  harshness  of  manners.     The  Grecian 


THE     REIGN      OF      VASSILI.  189 

empci-ors,  perhaps,  in  abaiKloning  their  palaces,  left  also  to 
their  conquerors  that  suavity  which  has  transmitted  even  to 
our  day  the  enviable  title  of  the  "polished  Greek." 

In  the  year  1503,  Ivan  III.  lost  his  spouse,  the  Greek  prin- 
cess S()i>liia.  Her  death  aftected  the  aged  monarch  deeply, 
and  seriously  impaired  his  health.  Twenty-five  years  liad  now 
elapsed  since  he  vcceived  the  young  and  beautiful  })rincess  as 
his  bride,  and  during  all  these  tumultuous  years  her  genius 
and  attractions  had  been  the  most  brilliant  ornament  of  his 
court.  The  infirmities  of  age  pressed  heavily  upon  the  king, 
and  it  was  manifest  that  his  days  could  not  much  longer  be 
prolonged.  With  much  ceremony,  in  the  presence  of  his 
lords,  he  dictated  his  will,  declaring  his  oldest  son  Vassili  to 
be  his  successor  as  niouarch,  and  assigning  to  all  his  younger 
children  rich  possessions.  The  passion  for  the  aggrandizement 
of  Russia  still  glowed  strongly  in  his  bosom  even  in  the  hour 
of  death.  Yassili,  though  twenty-five  years  of  age,  was  as 
yet  unmari-ied.  He  decided  to  select  his  spouse  from  the 
daughters  of  the  Russian  nobles,  and  fifteen  hundred  of  the 
most  beautiful  belles  of  the  kingdom  were  brought  to  the 
court  that  the  prince,  i'rotu  among  them,  might  make  his  se- 
lection. The  choice  fell  upt)n  a  maiden  of  exquisite  beauty, 
of  Tartar  descent.  Her  fhtlier  was  an  officer  in  the  army,  a 
son  of  one  of  the  chiefs  of  the  horde.  The  marriage  was  im- 
mediately consummated,  and  all  Moscow  was  in  a  blaze  of 
illumination,  rejoicing  over  the  nuptials  of  the  heir  to  the 
crown.  The  decay  of  the  aged  monarch,  however,  advanced, 
day  by  day.  His  death,  at  last,  was  quite  sudden,  in  the 
night  of  the  27th  of  October,  1505,  at  the  age  of  sixty-six 
years  and  nine  months,  and  at  the  close  of  a  reign  of  forty 
three  years  and  a  half 

Ivan  HI.  will,  thi'ough  all  ages,  retani  the  rank  of  one  of 
tht'  most  illustrious  of  the  sovereigns  of  Russia.  The  excellen- 
cies of  his  character  and  tin;  length  of  his  reign,  combined  in 
enabling  him  to  give  an  abiding  direction  to  the  career  ot  his 


190  THE     EMPIKE      OF     RUSSIA. 

country.  Pie  made  his  appearance  on  the  political  stage  just 
in  the  time  when  a  new  system  of  government,  favorable  to 
the  power  of  the  sovereigns  of  Europe,  was  rit^ing  upon  the 
ruins  of  feudalism.  The  royal  authority  was  gaining  rapidly 
in  England  and  in  France.  Spain,  freed  from  the  domination 
of  die  Moors,  had  just  become  a  power  of  the  tii-st  rank.  Tlie 
fleets  of  Portugal  were  whitening  the  most  distant  seas,  con- 
ferring upon  the  energetic  kingdom  wonderful  wealth  and 
power.  Italy,  though  divided,  exulted  in  her  fleet,  her  mari- 
time wealth,  and  her  elevation  above  all  other  nations  in  the 
arts,  the  sciences  and  the  intrigues  of  politics.  Frederic  IV., 
Emperor  of  Germany,  an  ineflicient,  apathetic  man,  was  un- 
able to  restore  repose  to  the  empire,  distracted  by  civil  war. 
Plis  energetic  son,  Maximilian,  was  already  meditating  that 
political  change  which  should  give  new  strength  to  the  mon- 
arch, and  which  finally  raised  tlie  house  of  Austria  to  the 
highest  point  of  earth])'  grandeur.  Hungary,  Bohemia  and 
Poland,  governed  by  near  relatives,  might  almost  be  con- 
sidered as  a  single  power,  and  they  were,  as  by  instinct,  allied 
with  Austria  in  endeavors  to  resist  the  encroachments  of  the 
Turks. 

Inventions  and  discoveries  of  the  greatest  importance  were 
made  in  the  world  during  the  reign  of  Ivan  III.  Guttenburg 
and  Faust  in  Strasbourg  invented  the  art  of  printing.  Chris- 
topher Columbus  discovered  the  New  World.  Until  then  the 
productions  of  India  reached  central  Europe  through  Persia, 
the  Caspian  Sea  and  the  Sea  of  Azof.  On  the  20ih  of  Novem- 
ber, 1497,  Vasco  de  Gama  doubled  the  Cape  of  Good  Hope, 
thus  oj)euiug  a  new  route  to  the  Indies,  and  adding  inuneas- 
urably  to  the  entei-prise  and  wealth  of  the  world.  A  new 
ojioch  seemed  to  dawn  upon  mankind,  fovorable  at  least  to 
the  tranquillity  of  nations,  the  })rogress  of  civilization  and  the 
strength  of  governments.  Tluis  tar  Russia,  in  her  i-emote  se- 
clusion, had  taken  no  })art  in  the  politics  of  Europe.  It  was 
not  until  the  reign  of  Ivan   III.  tliat  this  ureat  northern  em- 


THE     REIGN      OF     VASSILI.  191 

pire  emerged  from  that  state  of  cbaos  in  which  slie  had  neither 
possessed  definiteness  of  form  nor  assm'ed  existence. 

Ivan  III.  found  his  nation  in  subjection  to  the  Tartars. 
He  threw  off  the  yoke ;  became  one  of  the  most  ilkistrious 
monarchs  in  Europe,  commanding  respect  throughout  Chris- 
tendom ;  he  took  his  position  by  the  side  of  emperors  and 
sultans,  and  by  the  native  energies  of  liis  mind,  unenlightened 
by  study,  he  gave  the  wisest  precepts  for  the  internal  and  the 
external  government  of  his  realms.  But  he  was  a  rude,  stern 
man,  the  legitimate  growth  of  those  savage  times.  It  is  re- 
corded that  a  single  angry  loolc  from  liim  would  make  any 
woman  faint ;  that  at  the  table  the  nobles  trembled  before 
him,  not  daring  to  utter  a  word. 

Vassili  now  ascended  the  throne,  and  with  gi-eat  energy 
carried  out  the  principles  established  by  his  fither.  The  lirst 
impoi'tant  measure  of  the  new  monarch  was  to  tit  out  an  ex- 
pedition against  the  still  powerful  but  vagabond  horde  at 
Kezan,  on  the  Volga,  to  punish  them  for  some  acts  of  insub- 
ordination. A  powerful  armament  descended  the  Volga  in 
barges.  The  infantry  landed  near  Kezan  on  the  22d  of  May, 
150G.  The  Tartars,  with  a  nutnerous  array  of  cavalry,  were 
ready  to  receive  their  assailants,  and  fell  upon  them  with  such 
impetuosity  and  courage  that  the  Russians  were  overjjow- 
ered,  and  driven  back,  with  much  slaughter,  to  their  boats. 
They  consequently  retreated  to  await  the  arrival  of  the  cav- 
alry. The  Tartars,  imagining  that  the  foe,  utterly  discom- 
fited, had  fled  back  to  Moscow,  surrendered  themselves  to 
excessive  joy.  A  month  passed  away,  and  on  the  22d  of  June 
an  innnense  assemblage  of  inicounted  thousands  of  Tartars 
wei'e  gatheied  in  festivity  on  tlie  plains  of  Arsk,  which  spread 
around  their  capital  city.  More  than  a  thousand  tents  were 
sj»read  upon  the  held.  M(;rchant.s  from  all  pai'ts  were  gathered 
there  displaying  their  goods,  and  a  scene  of  festivity  and  splen- 
dor was  exhibited,  such  as  modern  civilization  has  never  jyar- 
alleled. 


192  THE      E  M  P  I  if  E      OF     E  U  S  S  I  A  . 

Suddenly  the  Russian  army,  liorse  and  infantry,  Avere  seen 
upon  tlie  plain,  as  if  they  had  dro})ped  from  the  clouds.  They 
rushed  upon  tlie  encampment,  cutting  down  the  terrified  mul- 
titude, with  awful  butchery,  and  trampling  them  beneath  their 
liorses'  feet.  The  fugitives,  in  dismay,  souglit  to  regain  the 
city,  crushing  each  other  in  their  flight  and  in  the  desperate 
endeavor  to  crowd  in  at  the  gates  and  along  the  nari'ow  streets. 
The  Russians,  exhausted  by  their  victory,  and  lured  by  the 
luxuries  which  filled  the  tents,  iustead  of  taking  the  city  by 
storm,  as,  in  the  confusion  they  probably  could  have  done, 
surrendered  themselves  to  pillage  and  voluptuous  indulgence. 
They  found  the  tents  filled  with  food,  liquors  of  all  kinds  and 
a  great  quantity  of  precious  commodities,  and  forgetting  they 
were  in  the  presence  of  an  enemy,  they  plunged  into  the 
wildest  excesses  of  festivity  and  wassail. 

The  disgraceful  carousal  was  briefly  terminated  during  the 
night,  but  renewed,  with  additional  zest,  in  the  morning.  The 
songs  and  the  shouts  of  the  drunken  soldiers  were  heard  in 
the  streets  of  Kezan,  and,  from  tlie  battlements,  the  Tartars 
beheld  these  orgies,  equaling  the  most  frantic  revels  of  pagan 
bacchanals.  The  Tartar  khan,  from  the  top  of  a  bastion, 
watched  the  spectacle,  and  perceiving  the  negligence  of  his 
enemies,  prepared  for  a  surprise  and  for  vengeance.  On  the 
2oth  of  June,  just  at  the  dawn  of  day,  the  gates  were  thrown 
open,  and  twenty  thousand  horsemen  and  thirty  thousand  in- 
fantry precipitated  themselves  with  frightful  yells  upon  the 
Russians,  stupefied  with  sleep  and  wine.  Though  the  Rus- 
sians exceeded  the  Tartars  two  to  one,  yet  they  fled  towards 
their  boats  like  a  flock  of  sheep,  without  order  and  without 
arms.  The  plain  was  speedily  strewn  with  their  dead  bodies 
and  crimsoned  with  their  blood.  Too  much  terrified  to  think 
even  of  resistance,  they  clambered  into  their  barges,  cut  the 
cables,  and  pushed  out  into  the  stream,  ]5ut  for  the  valor  of 
the  Russian  cavalry  all  would  have  been  destroyed.  In  the 
deejiest  humiliation  the  fugitives  returned  to  Moscow. 


THE     REIGN      OP      VASSILI.  193 

Vassili  resolved  upou  another  expedition  which  should 
inflict  signal  vengeance  upon  the  horde.  But  while  he  was 
making  his  preparations,  the  khan,  terrified  in  view  of  the 
storm  wliich  was  gathering,  sent  an  embassage  to  Moscow 
imploring  pardon  and  peace,  oifering  to  deliver  up  all  the 
prisoners  and  to  take  a  new  oath  of  homage  to  the  grand 
prince.  Yassili,  who  was  just  on  the  eve  of  a  war  with 
Poland,  with  alacrity  accepted  tliese  concessions.  The  King 
of  Poland  had  heard,  with  much  joy,  of  the  death  of  Ivan  III., 
whose  energetic  arm  he  had  greatly  feared,  and  he  now  hoj^ed 
to  take  advantage  of  the  youth  and  inexperience  of  Vassili. 
A  harassing  warfare  was  commenced  between  Russia  and  Po- 
land, wliich  raged  for  several  years.  Peace  was  finally  made, 
Russia  extorting  from  Poland  several  important  provinces. 

In  the  year  1514,  Vassili,  entering  into  a  treaty  with  Max- 
imilian, the  EmjDcror  of  Germany,  laid  aside  the  title  of  grand 
prince  and  assumed  for  himself  that  of  emperor,  which  was 
Kayser  in  the  German  language  and  Tzar  in  the  Russian. 
With  great  energy  Vassili  pushed  the  work  of  concentrating 
and  extending  his  empire,  every  year  strengthening  his  power 
over  the  distant  principalities.  Bajazet  II.,  the  Turkish  sul- 
tan, the  victim  of  a  conspiracy,  was  dethi-oned  by  his  son 
Selim.  Vassili,  wishing,  for  tlie  sake  of  commerce,  to  main- 
tain friendly  relations  with  Turkey,  sent  an  embassador  to 
the  new  sultan.  The  embassador,  Alexeief,  was  authorized 
to  make  all  proper  protestations  of  friendship,  but  to  be  very 
cautious  not  to  compromit  the  dignity  of  his  sovereign.  He 
was  instructed  not  to  prostrate  himself  before  the  sultan,  as 
was  the  oriental  custom,  but  merely  to  offer  his  hands.  He 
was  to  convey  rich  jtresents  to  Selim,  with  a  letter  from  the 
Russian  court,  but  was  by  no  means  to  enquire  for  the  health 
of  the  sultan,  unless  the  sultan  should  first  enquire  for  the 
liealth  of  the  emperor. 

Notwithstanding  these  chilling  punctilios,  Selim  received 
the  Russian  embassador  with  much  cordiality,  and  sent  back 

9 


194  THE     EMPIEE      OF      EUSSIA. 

M'ith  him  a  Turkish  embassador  to  the  court  of  Moscow. 
Nine  months,  from  August  to  May,  were  occujsied  in  the 
Aveary  journey.  While  traversing  the  vast  deserts  of  Vero- 
iiage,  their  horses,  exhausted  and  starving,  sank  beneath 
them,  and  they  were  obUged  to  toil  along  for  weary  leagues 
on  foot,  sufiering  from  the  want  both  of  food  and  water. 
They  nearly  perished  before  reaching  the  frontiers  of  Rezan, 
but  here  they  found  horses  and  retinue  awaiting  them,  sent  by 
Vassili.  Upon  their  arrival  at  Moscow,  the  Turkish  embassa- 
dor was  received  with  great  enthusiasm.  It  was  deemed  an 
honor,  as  yet  unparalleled  in  Russia,  that  the  terrible  con- 
querors of  Constantinople,  before  whose  arms  all  Christendom 
was  trembling,  should  send  an  embassador  fifteen  hundred 
miles  to  Moscow  to  seek  the  alliance  of  the  emperor. 

The  Turkish  envoy  was  received  with  great  magnificence 
by  Vassili,  seated  upon  his  throne,  and  surrounded  by  his 
nobles  clad  in  robes  of  the  most  costly  furs.  The  embassador, 
Theodoric  Kamal,  a  Greek  by  birth,  with  the  courtesy  of  the 
polished  Greek,  kneeling,  kissed  the  hand  of  the  emperor, 
presented  him  the  letter  of  his  master,  the  sultan,  beautifully 
written  upon  parchment  in  Arabic  letters,  and  assured  the 
emperor  of  the  wish  of  the  sultan  to  live  with  him  in  eternal 
friendship.  But  the  Turk,  loud  in  protestations,  was  not  dis- 
posed to  alliance.  It  was  evident  that  the  ofiice  of  a  spy 
constituted  the  most  important  part  of  the  mission  of  Kamal. 

This  embassador  had  but  just  left  the  court  of  Moscow 
when  another  appeared,' from  the  Emperor  Maximilian,  of 
Germany.  The  message  with  which  the  Baron  Ilerberstein 
was  commissioned  from  the  court  of  Vienna  to  the  court  of 
Moscow  is  sufficiently  important  to  be  recorded. 

"  Ought  not  sovereigns,"  said  tlie  embassadoi',  "  to  seek 
the  glory  of  religion  and  the  happiness  of  their  subjects  ? 
Such  are  the  principles  which  have  ever  guided  the  emperor. 
If  he  has  waged  war,  it  has  never  been  from  the  love  of  false 
glory,  nor  to  seize  the  territories  of  others,    but  to    punish 


THE     RKIGN     OF     VASSILI.  195 

those  who  have  dared  to  provoke  him.  Despising  danger,  he 
has  been  seen  in  battle,  exposing  himself  like  the  humblest 
soldier,  and  gaining  victories  against  superior  forces  because 
the  Almighty  lends  his  arm  to  aid  the  virtuous. 

"  The  Emperor  of  Germany  is  now  reposing  in  the  bosom 
of  tranquillity.  The  pope  and  all  the  princes  of  Italy  have 
become  his  allies.  Spain,  Naples,  Sicily  and  twenty-six  other 
realms  recognize  his  grandson,  Charles  V.,  for  their  legitimate 
and  hereditary  monarch.  The  King  of  Portugal  is  attached 
to  him  by  the  ties  of  relationship,  and  the  King  of  England 
by  the  bonds  of  sincere  fi'iendship.  The  sovereigns  of  Den- 
mark and  Hungary  have  married  the  grand-daughters  of 
Maximilian,  and  the  King  of  Poland  testifies  to  unbounded 
confidence  in  him.  I  will  not  speak  of  your  majesty,  for  tlie 
Emperor  of  Russia  well  knows  how  to  ai)})reciate  the  senti- 
ments of  the  Emperor  of  Germany. 

"  The  King  of  France  and  the  republic  of  Venice,  influ- 
enced by  selfish  interests,  and  disregarding  the  prosperity  of 
Christianity,  have  taken  no  part  in  this  fraternal  alliance  of 
all  the  rest  of  Europe;  but  they  are  now  beginning  to  mani- 
fest a  love  for  peace,  and  I  have  just  learned  that  a  tre;;ty  is 
about  to  be  concluded  with  them,  also.  Let  any  one  now 
cast  a  glance  over  the  world  and  he  will  see  but  one  Christian 
prince  who  is  not  attached  to  the  Emperor  Maximilian  either 
by  the  ties  of  friendship  or  affection.  All  Christian  Europe 
is  in  prolbund  peace  excepting  Russia  and  Poland. 

"  Maximilian  has  sent  me  to  your  majesty,  illustrious 
monarch,  to  entreat  you  to  restore  repose  to  Christianity  and 
to  your  states.  Peace  causes  empires  to  flourish  ;  war  de- 
stroys their  resources  and  hastens  their  downfall.  Who  can 
be  sure  of  victory?    Fortune  often  frustrates  the  wisest  plans. 

"Thus  far  I  have  spoken  in  the  name  of  my  master.  I 
I  wish  now  to  add,  tliat  on  my  journey  I  have  been  informed, 
by  the  Turkish  embassador  himself,  that  the  sultan  has  just 
captured  Damascus,  Jerusalem    and  all  Egy])t.     A   1rav(^ler, 


196  THE      EMPIRE     OP     RUSSIA. 

Avorthy  of  credence,  lias  confirmed  this  deplorable  intelligence. 
li',  before  these  events,  the  power  of  the  sultan  inspired  us 
with  just  fear,  ought  not  this  success  of  his  arms  to  augment 
our  apprehensions  ?" 

Russia  and  Poland  had  long  been  engaged  in  a  bloody 
frontier  war,  each  endeavoring  to  wrest  provinces  from  the 
other  ;  but  Russia  was  steadily  on  the  advance.  The  embas- 
sage of  Maximilian  was  not  productive  of  peace.  On  the 
contrary,  Vassili  immediately  sent  an  embassador  to  Vienna 
to  endeavor  to  secure  the  aid  of  Austria  in  his  war  with  Po- 
land. Maximilian  received  the  envoy  with  very  extraordinary 
marks  of  favor.  He  was  invited  to  sit,  in  the  presence  of  the 
emperor,  with  his  hat  upon  his  head,  and  whenever  the  em- 
bassador, during  the  conference,  mentioned  the  name  of  the 
Russian  emperor,  Maximilian  uncovered  his  head  in  token  of 
respect.  The  great  object  of  Maximilian's  ambition  was  to 
arm  all  Eurojje  against  the  Turks  ;  and  he  was  exceedingly 
anxious  to  secure  the  cooperation  of  a  power  so  energetic  as 
that  of  Russia  had  now  proved  herself  to  be.  Even  then 
with  consummate  foresight  he  wrote  : 

"  Tlie  integrity  of  Poland  is  indispensable  to  the  general 
interests  of  Europe.  Tiie  grandeur  of  Russia  is  becoming 
dangerous." 

Maximilian  soon  sent  another  embassador  to  Moscow,  who 
very  forcibly  described  the  conquests  made  by  the  Turks  in 
Europe,  Asia  and  Africa,  from  the  Thracian  Bosporus  to 
the  sands  of  Egypt,  and  from  the  mountains  of  Caucasia  to 
Venice.  He  spoke  of  the  melancholy  captivity  of  the  Greek 
church,  which  was  the  mother  of  Russian  Christianity  ;  of  the 
profanation  of  the  holy  sepulcher  ;  of  Nazareth,  Bethlehem 
and  Sinai,  which  had  fallen  under  the  domination  of  tlie  Turk. 
He  suggested  that  the  Turks,  iu  possession  of  the  Tauride — ■ 
as  the  country  upon  the  north  shore  of  the  Black  Sea,  l)Ound- 
ed  by  the  Dnieper  and  the  Sea  of  Azof  was  then  called — 
threatened   the  independence  of  Russia  herself;  that  Vassili 


THE     REIGN      OF     VASSILI.  197 

liad  every  thing  to  fear  from  the  ferocity,  the  perfidy  and  the 
success  of  Selini,  who,  stained  with  the  blood  of  his  father 
and  his  tliree  brothers,  dared  to  assume  the  title  of  master  of 
the  world.  He  entreated  Vassili,  as  one  of  tlie  most  power- 
ful of  the  Christian  princes,  to  follow  the  banner  of  Jesus 
Christ,  and  to  cease  to  make  Avar  upon  Poland,  thus  exhaust- 
ing the  Christian  powers. 

Maximilian  died  before  his  embassador  returned,  and  thus 
these  negotiations  were  interrupted.  But  Russia  was  then 
all  engrossed  with  the  desire  of  obtaining  provinces  from 
Poland.  Turkey  was  too  formidable  a  foe  to  think  of  as- 
sailing, and  the  idea  at  that  lime  of  Avresting  any  territory 
from  Turkey  was  preposterous.  All  Europe  combined  could 
only  hope  to  check  any  further  advance  of  the  Moslem  cime- 
ters.  Influenced  by  these  considerations,  Vassili  sent  another 
embassador  to  Constantinople  to  propose  a  treaty  with  Selim, 
which  might  aid  Russia  in  the  strife  with  her  hereditary 
rival.  The  sultan,  glad  of  any  oppoitunity  to  weaken  the 
Christian  jjowers,  ordered  his  pachas  to  harass  Poland  in 
every  possible  way  on  the  south,  thus  enabling  Russia  more 
easily  to  assail  the  distracted  kingdom  on  the  north.  The 
King  of  Poland,  Sigismond,  was  in  consternation. 

Poland  was  united  with  Rome  in  religion.  The  pope, 
Leo  X.,  anxious  to  secure  the  cooperation  of  both  Poland 
and  Russia  against  the  Turks,  who  were  the  great  foo 
Cliristianity  had  most  to  dread,  })roposed  that  the  King  of 
Poland,  a  renowned  wariior,  should  be  eiiti'usted  with  the 
suprenn;  command  of  the  Cluistian  armies,  and  adroitly  sug- 
gested to  Vassili,  that  Constantinople  was  the  legitimate 
heritage  of  a  Russian  monarch,  who  was  llie  descendant  of 
a  Grecian  princess ;  tliat  it  was  sound  policy  for  him  to  turn 
his  attention  to  Turkey ;  fur  Poland,  being  a  weaker  power, 
and  combined  of  two  discordant  elements,  the  original  Po- 
land and  Lithuania,  would  of  neccessity  be  gradually  ab- 
sorbed by  the  growth  of  Russia, 


198  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

Vassili  hated  the  pope,  because  he  had  ordered  Te  Deums 
in  Rome,  in  celebration  of  a  victoiy  which  the  Poles  had  ob- 
tained over  the  Russians,  and  had  called  the  Russians  heretics. 
But  still  the  bait  the  pope  presented  was  too  alluring  not  to 
be  caught  at.  In  the  labyrinthine  mazes  of  politics,  however, 
there  were  obstacles  to  the  development  of  this  jjolicy  which 
yeai's  only  could  remove. 

Upon  the  death  of  Maximilian,  Charles  V.  of  Spain  as- 
cended the  throne  of  the  German  empire,  and  established  a 
power,  the  most  formidable  that  had  been  known  in  Europe 
for  seven  hundred  years,  that  is,  since  tlie  age  of  Charle- 
magne. Vassili  was  in  the  niidst  of  these  plans  of  aggran- 
dizement when  death  came  witli  its  unexpected  summons. 
He  was  in  the  fifty-fourth  year  of  his  age,  with  mental  and 
physical  vigor  unimpaired.  A  small  pimjsle  appeared  on  his 
left  thigh,  not  larger  than  the  head  of  a  pin,  but  from  its 
commencement  attended  with  excruciating  pain.  It  soon 
resolved  itself  into  a*  malignant  ulcer,  which  rapidly  exhausted 
all  the  vital  energies.  The  dying  king  was  exceedingly  anx- 
ious to  prepare  himself  to  stand  before  the  judgment  seat  of 
God.  He  spent  days  and  nights  in  jjrayer,  gave  most  affec- 
tionate exhortations  to  all  around  him  to  live  for  heaven,  as- 
sumed monastic  robes,  resolving  that,  should  he  recover,  he 
would  devote  himself  exclusively  to  the  service  of  God.  It 
was  midnight  the  3d  of  December,  1533.  The  king  had  just 
partaken  of  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  Suddenly 
his  tongue  was  paralyzed,  his  eyes  fixed,  his  hands  dropped 
by  his  side,  and  the  metropolitan  bishop,  who  had  been  ad- 
ministering the  last  lites  of  religion,  exclaimed,  "  It  is  all 
over.     The  kinac  is  dead." 


CHAP  TER     XII. 

IVAN    IV.— HIS    MliSrOIlITT. 
FROil  1533  TO  1546. 

Vassili  at  the  Chase. — Attention  to  Distinguished  Foreigners. — The  Autocracy. 
— Splendor  of  the  Edifices. — Slaveky. — Aristocracy.— Infancy  of  Ivan  IV. — 
Regency  of  Helf.ne.— Conspiracies  and  Tumults. — War  with  Sigismond  op 
Poland. — Death  of  Heleke. — Struggles  of  the  Nobles. — Appalling  Suffer- 
ings of  Dmitri. — Incuf.sion  of  the  Tartars. — Successful  Conspiracy. — Ivan 
IV.  at  the  Cuase.-^Coronatio2<  of  Ivan  IV. 

UNDER  Vassili,  the  Russian  court  attained  a  degree  of 
sjjlendor  which  had  before  been  unknown.  The  Baron 
of  Herberstein  thus  describes  the  appearance  of  the  monarch 
when  engaging  in  the  pleasures  of  the  chase : 

"As  soon  as  we  saw  the  monarch  entering  the  field,  we 
dismounted  and  advanced  to  meet  him  on  foot.  He  was 
mounted  upon  a  magnificent  charger,  gorgeously  caparisoned. 
He  wore  upon  his  head  a  tall  cap,  embroidered  with  precious 
stones,  and  surmounted  by  gilded  plumes  which  waved  in  the 
wind.  A  jjoignard  and  two  knives  were  attached  to  his  gir- 
dle. He  had  upon  his  right,  Aley,  tzar  of  Kazan,  armed  with 
a  bow  and  arrows;  at  his  left,  two  young  princes,  one  of 
whom  held  an  a.v,  and  the  oilier  a  number  of  arms.  His  suite 
consisted  of  more  than  three  hundred  cavaliers." 

The  chase  was  continued,  over  the  boimdless  plains,  for 
many  days  and  often  weeks.  When  night  apin-oaclied,  the 
whole  party,  often  consisting  of  thousands,  dismounted  and 
reared  their  village  of  tents.  The  tent  of  the  emperor  was 
ample,  gorgeous,  and  furnished  with  all  the  appliances  of  lux- 
ary.  Hounds  were  first  introduced  into  these  sports  in  Ru.s- 
sia  by  Vassili.     The  evening  hours  were  passed  in  festivity, 


200  THE     EMPIRE      OF     EUSSIA. 

with  abundance  of  good  cheer,  and  in  narrating  the  adven- 
tures of  the  day. 

Whenever  the  emperor  appeared  in  public,  he  Avas  pre- 
ceded by  esquires  chosen  from  among  tlie  young  nobles 
distinguished  for  their  beauty,  the  delicacy  of  their  features 
and  the  perfect  proportion  of  their  forms.  Clothed  in  robes 
of  white  satin  and  armed  with  small  hatchets  of  silver,  they 
marched  before  the  emperor,  and  appeared  to  strangers,  say 
his  cotemporaries,  "  like  angels  descended  from  the  skies." 

Vassili  was  especially  fond  of  magnificence  in  the  audiences 
which  he  gave  to  foreign  embassadors.  To  impress  them  with 
an  idea  of  the  vast  population  and  wealth  of  Russia,  and  of 
the  glory  and  power  of  tlie  sovereign,  Vassili  ordered,  on  the 
day  of  presentation,  that  all  the  ordinary  avocations  of  life 
should  cease,  and  the  citizens,  clothed  in  their  richest  dresses, 
were  to  crowd  around  the  walls  of  the  Kremlin.  All  the 
young  nobles  in  the  vicinity,  with  their  retinues,  Avere  sum- 
moned. The  troops  were  under  arms,  and  the  most  distin- 
guished officers,  glitt(;ring  in  the  panoply  of  war,  rode  to 
meet  the  envoys.*  In  the  hall  of  audience,  crowded  to  its 
utmost  capacity,  there  was  silence,  as  of  the  grave.  The 
king  sat  upon  his  throne,  his  bonnet  upon  one  side  of  him,  his 
scepter  upon  the  other.  His  nobles  were  seated  around  upon 
couches  draped  in  purple  and  embroidered  with  pearls  and 
gold. 

Following  the  example  of  Ivan  III.,  Vassili  was  unwearied 
in  his  endeavors  to  induce  foreigners  of  distinction,  particu- 
larly artists,  physicians  and  men  of  science,  to  take  up  tlieir 
residence  in  Russia.  Any  stranger,  distinguished  for  genius 
or  capability  of  any  kind,  who  entered  Russia,  found  it  not 
easy  to  leave  the  kingdoui.  A  Greek  physician,  of  much 
celebrity,  from  Constantinople,  visited  Moscow.    Vassili  could 

*  Francis  da  Gallo  relates  that  when  he  was  received  by  the  emperor, 
forty  thousand  soldiers  were  under  arms,  in  the  richest  uniform,  oxtendiDg 
from  the  Kremlin  to  the  hotel  of  the  embassadors. 


IVAN     IV. HIS     MINORITY.  201 

not  find  It  in  his  heart  to  relinquish  so  rich  a  prize,  and 
detained  hiiu  with  golden  bonds,  which  the  unhappy  man, 
mourning  for  his  wife  and  children,  in  vain  endeavored  to 
break  away.  At  last  the  saltan  was  influenced  to  write  in 
behalf  of  tlie  Greek. 

"  Permit,"  he  wrote,  "  Marc  to  return  to  Constantinople  to 
rejoin  his  family.  He  went  to  Russia  only  for  a  temporary- 
visit." 

The  emperor  replied : 

"For  a  long  time  Marc  has  served  me  to  his  and  my 
perfect  satisfaction.  He  is  now  my  lieutenant  at  Novgorod. 
Send  to  him  his  wife  and  children." 

The  power  of  the  sovereign  was  absolute.  His  will  was 
the  suj^reme  law.  Tiie  lives,  the  fortunes  of  the  clergy,  the 
laity,  the  lords,  the  citizens  were  dependent  upon  his  pleasure. 
The  Russians  regarded  their  monarch  as  the  executor  of  the 
divine  will.  Their  ordinary  language  was,  God  and  the 
prince  decree  it.  The  Russians  generally  defend  this  autoc- 
racy as  the  only  true  principle  of  government.  The  philoso- 
phic Karamsin  writes  : 

"  Ivan  in.  and  Vassili  knew  how  to  establish  perma- 
nently the  nature  of  one  government  by  constituting  in  au- 
tocracy the  necessary  attribute  of  empire,  its  sole  constitution, 
and  the  only  basis  of  safety,  force  and  prosperity.  This 
limitless  power  of  the  prince  is  regarded  as  tyranny  in  the 
eye  of  strangers,  because,  in  their  inconsiderate  judgment, 
they  forget  that  tyranny  is  the  abuse  of  autocracy,  and  that^ 
the  same  tyranny  may  exist  in  a  rei)ublic  when  citizens  or 
jjowerful  magistrates  oppress  society.  Autocracy  does  not 
signify  the  absence  of  laws,  since  law  is  everywhere  where 
there  is  any  duty  to  be  performed,  and  the  lirst  duly  of 
])rinces,  is  it  not  to  watch  over  the  happiness  of  their  people  ?" 

To  the  traveler,  in  the  age  of  VassiH,  llussia  appearcul  like 
a  vast  desert  compared  with  the  otlier  coiintrit'S  of  Europe. 
The  sparseness  of  the  habitations,  the  extended   plains,  dense 

•J* 


202  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

forests  and  roads,  rough  and  desolate,  attested  that  Russia  was 
still  in  the  cradle  of  its  civilization.  But  as  one  aj)proacln.'d 
Moscow,  the  signs  of  animated  life  rapidly  increased.  Con- 
voys crowded  the  grand  route,  which  traversed  vast  prairies 
waving  with  grain  and  embellished  with  all  the  w^orks  of 
industry.  In  the  midst  of  this  plain  rose  the  majestic  domes 
and  glittering  towers  of  Moscow.  The  convents,  in  massive 
piles,  scattered  around,  resembled  beautiful  villages.  The 
palace  of  the  Kremlin  alone,  was  a  city  in  itself.  Around  this, 
as  the  nucleus,  but  spreading  over  a  wide  extent,  were  the 
streets  of  the  metropolis,  the  palaces  of  the  nobles,  the  man- 
sions of  the  wealthy  citizens  and  the  shops  of  the  artisans. 
The  city  in  that  day  was,  indeed,  one  of  "magniticent  dis- 
tances," almost  every  dwelling  being  surrounded  by  a  garden 
in  luxurious  cultivation.  In  the  year  1520,  the  houses,  by 
count,  which  was  ordered  by  the  grand  prince,  amounted  to 
forty-one  tliousand  five  hmidred. 

The  metropolitan  bishop,  the  grand  dignitaries  of  the 
court,  the  princes  and  lords  occupied  splendid  mansions  of 
wood  reared  by  Grecian  and  Italian  architects  in  the  environs 
of  the  Kremlin.  On  wide  and  beautiful  streets  there  were  a 
large  number  of  very  magnificent  churches  also  built  of  wood. 
The  bazaars  or  sho^js,  filled  with  the  rich  merchandise  of 
Europe  and  of  Asia,  were  collected  in  one  quarter  of  the 
city,  and  were  surrounded  by  a  high  stone  wall  as  a  protec- 
tion against  the  armies,  domestic  or  foreign,  which  were  ever 
sweeping  over  the  land. 

From  the  eleventh  to  the  sixteenth  century,  slavery  may 
be  said  to  have  been  universal  in  Russia.  Absolutely  every 
man  but  the  monarch  was  a  slave.  The  highest  nobles  and 
princes  avowed  themselves  the  slaves  of  the  monarch.  Thei'C 
was  no  law  but  the  will  of  the  sovereign.  He  could  deprive 
any  one  of  property  and  of  li!e,  nnd  there  was  no  power  to 
call  him  to  account  but  the  poignard  of  the  assassin  or  the 
sword  of  rebellion.    In   like  manner  the   peasant  serfs  were 


IVAN      IV.  HIS      MINORITY.  203 

slaves  of  the  nobles,  with  no  privileges  whatever,  except  such 
as  the  humanity  or  the  selfishness  of  their  lords  might  grant. 
But  gradually  custom,  controlling  public  opinion,  assumed 
almost  the  form  of  law.  The  kings  established  certain  rules 
for  the  promotion  of  industry  and  the  regulation  of  commerce. 
Merchants  and  scholars  attained  a  degree  of  practical  inde- 
pendence which  was  based  on  indulgence  rather  than  any 
constitutional  right,  and,  during  the  reign  of  Vassili,  the  law 
alone  could  doom  the  serf  to  death,  and  he  began  to  be 
regarded  as  a  man^  as  a  citizen  jDrotected  by  the  laws.* 
From  this  time  we  begin  to  see  the  progress  of  humanity  and 
of  higher  conceptions  of  social  life.  It  is,  perhaps,  worthy  of 
record  that  anciently  the  peasants  or  serfs  were  universally 
designated  by  the  name  smerdi^  which  simply  means  smelling 
offensively.  Is  the  exhalation  of  an  oflensive  odor  the  neces- 
sary property  of  a  people  imbruted  by  poverty  and  filth  ?  In 
America  that  unpleasant  effluvium  has  generally  been  consid- 
ered a  peculiarity  pertaining  to  the  colored  race.  Philosophic 
observation  may  show  that  it  is  a  disease,  the  result  of  \m- 
cleanliness,  but,  like  other  diseases,  often  transmitted  from 
the  guilty  parent  to  the  unofl:ending  child.  We  have  known 
white  pee})le  who  were  exceedingly  offensive  in  this  respect, 
and  colored  people  who  were  not  so  at  all. 

The  pride  of  illustrious  birth  was  carried  to  the  greatest 
extreme,  and  a  noble  would  blush  to  enter  into  any  friendly 
relations  whatever  with  a  plebeian.  The  nobles  considered 
all  business  degrading  excei)ting  war,  and  spent  the  weary 
months,  when  not  under  arms,  in  indolence  in  their  castles. 
The  young  women  of  the  higher  families  were  in  a  deplorable 
state  of  captivity.  Etiquette  did  not  allow  them  to  mingle 
with  society,  or  even  to  be  seen  except  by  their  parents,  and 
they  had  no  employment  except  sewing  or  knitting,  no  mental 
culture  and  no  sources  of  amusement.  It  was  not  the  custom 
for  the  young  men  to  choose  their  wives,  but  the  fixther  of 
*  Kararasin,  tome  vii.,  pajje  265. 


204  TUK     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

the  maiden  selected  some  eligible  match  for  his  daughter,  and 
made  propositions  to  the  fliinily  of  his  contemplated  son-in- 
law,  stating  the  dowry  he  would  confer  upon  the  bride,  and 
the  parties  were  frequently  married  without  ever  having  pre- 
viously seen  each  other. 

The  death  of  Vassili  transmitted  the  crown  to  his  only  son, 
Ivan,  an  infant  but  three  years  of  age.  By  the  will  of  the 
dying  monarch,  the  regency,  during  the  minority  of  the  child, 
was  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  youthful  mother,  the  princess 
Helene.  The  brothers  of  Vassili  and  twenty  nobles  of  dis- 
tinction were  appointed  as  counselors  for  the  queen  regent. 
Two  men,  however,  in  concert  with  Hel5ne,  soon  took  the 
reins  of  goverinnent  into  their  own  hands.  One  of  these 
was  a  sturdy,  ambitious  old  noble,  Michel  Glinsky,  an  unole 
of  Helene  ;  the  other  was  a  young  and  liandsome  prince,  Ivan 
Telennef,  who  was  suspected  of  tender  liaisons  with  his  royal 
mistress. 

The  first  act  of  the  new  government  was  to  assemble  all 
the  higher  clergy  in  the  church  of  the  Assumption,  where  the 
metropolitan  bishop  gave  his  benediction  to  the  child  destined 
to  reign  over  Russia,  and  who  was  there  declared  to  be  ac- 
countable to  God  only  for  his  actions.  At  the  same  time  em- 
bassadors were  sent  to  all  the  courts  of  Europe  to  announce 
the  death  of  Vassili  and  the  accession  of  Ivan  IV.  to  the 
throne. 

But  a  week  passed  after  these  ceremonies  ere  the  prince 
Youri,  one  of  the  brothers  of  Vassili,  was  arrested,  charged 
with  cons2)iracy  to  wrest  the  crown  from  his  young  nephew. 
He  was  thrown  into  prison,  where  he  was  left  to  perish  by  the 
slow  torture  of  starvation.  This  severity  excited  great  terror 
in  Moscow,  The  Russians,  ever  strongly  attached  to  their 
sovereigns,  now  found  themselves  under  the  reign  of  an  oli- 
garchy which  they  detested.  Conspiracies  and  rumors  of  con- 
spiracies agitated  the  court.  Many  were  arrested  upon  sus- 
picion alone,  and,  cruelly  chained,  were  thrown  into  dungeons. 


IVAN      IV  . U  IS      MINOKITY.  205 

Michel  Glinsky,  indignant  at  the  shameful  intimacy  evidently 
existing  between  Helene  and  Telennef,  ventured  to  remon- 
strate with  the  regent  boldly  and  earnestly,  assuring  her  that 
the  eyes  of  the  court  were  scrutinizing  lier  conduct,  and  that 
such  vice,  disgraceful  anywhere,  was  peculiarly  hideous  upon 
a  tlirone,  where  all  looked  for  examples  of  virtue.  The  auda- 
cious noble,  though  president  of  the  council,  was  immediately 
ai'rested  under  an  accusation  of  treason,  and  was  thrown  into 
a  dungeon,  Avhere,  soon  after,  he  was  assassinated.  A  reign 
of  terror  now  commenced,  and  imprisonment  and  death  await- 
ed all  those  who  undertook  in  any  way  to  thwart  the  plans  of 
Helene  and  Telennef. 

Andre,  the  youngest  of  tlie  brothers  of  Vassili,  a  man  of 
feeble  character,  now  alone  remained  of  the  royal  princes  at 
court.  He  was  nominally  the  tutor  of  his  nephew,  the  young 
emperor,  Ivan  IV.,  and  though  a  prominent  member  of  the 
council  which  Vassili  had  established,  he  had  no  influence  in 
the  government  which  had  been  grasped  so  energetically  and 
despotically  by  Helene  and  her  paramour  Telennef.  At  length 
Andre,  trembling  for  his  own  life,  timidly  raised  the  banners 
of  revolt,  and  gathered  quite  an  army  around  him.  l>ut  he 
had  no  energy  to  conduct  a  war.  He  was  speedily  taken,  and, 
loaded  with  chains,  was  thrown  into  a  dungeon,  where,  after 
a  few  weeks  of  most  cruel  deprivations,  he  miserably  perished. 
Thirty  of  the  lords,  implicated  with  him  in  the  rebellion,  were 
hung  upon  the  trees  around  Novgorod.  Many  others  were 
put  to  torture  and  perished  on  the  rack,  Helene,  surrender- 
ing herself  to  the  dominion  of  guilty  love,  develo[)ed  the  fero- 
city of  a  tigress. 

Sigismond,  King  of  Poland,  taking  advantage  of  the  gen- 
eral discontent  of  the  Russians  under  the  sway  of  Helene, 
formed  an  alliance  with  the  horde  upon  the  lower  waters  of 
the  Don,  and  invaded  Russia,  burning  and  destroying  with 
mercilessness  wliicli  demons  could  not  have  surpassed.  Prince 
Telennef  beaded  an  army  to  repel  them.     The  pen  wearies  in 


206  TUE     EMPIRE      OF     EUSSIA. 

describing  llie  liorroi's  of  tliese  scenes.  One  luindred  tliou- 
siind  Russians  are  now  tiying  before  one  Imndred  and  titty 
thousand  Polanders.  Hundreds  of  miles  of  territory  are  rav- 
aged. Cities  and  villages  are  stormed,  plundered,  burned  ; 
■women  and  children  are  cut  down  and  trampled  beneath  the 
feet  of  cavalry,  or  escai)e  shrieking  into  the  forests,  where  they 
perish  of  exposure  and  starvation.  But  an  army  of  recruits 
comes  to  the  aid  of  the  Russians.  And  now  one  hundred  and 
fifty  thousand  Polanders  are  driven  before  two  hundred  thou- 
sand Russians,  They  sweep  across  the  frontier  like  dust 
driven  by  the  tornado.  And  now  the  cities  and  villages  of 
Poland  blaze ;  her  streams  I'un  red  with  blood.  The  Polish 
wives  and  daughters  in  their  turn  struggle,  shriek  and  die. 
From  exhaustion  the  warfare  ceases.  The  two  antagonists, 
moaning  and  bleeding,  wait  for  a  few  years  but  to  recover 
sufHcent  strength  to  renew  the  strife,  and  then  the  brutal,  de- 
moniac butchery  commences  anew.  Such  is  the  history  of  man. 
In  this  brief,  but  bloody  war,  the  city  of  Staradoub,  in 
Russia,  was  besieged  by  an  army  of  Poles  and  Tartars.  The 
assault  was  urged  with  the  most  desperate  eneig'y  and  fear- 
lessness. The  defense  was  conducted  witii  equal  ferocity. 
Thousands  fell  on  both  sides  in  every  mangled  form  of  death. 
At  last  the  besiegers  undermined  the  walls,  and  placing  be- 
neath hundreds  of  barrels  of  gunpowder,  as  with  the  burst  of 
a  volcano,  uphove  the  massive  bastions  to  the  clouds.  They 
fell  in  a  storm  of  ruin  upon  the  city,  setting  it  on  tire  in 
many  places.  Through  the  flames  and  over  the  smouldering 
ruins,  Poles  and  Tartars,  blackened  with  smoke  and  smeared 
with  blood,  rushed  into  the  city,  and  in  a  few  hours  thirteen 
thousand  of  the  inhabitants  were  weltering  in  their  gore. 
None  were  left  alive.  And  this  is  but  a  specimen  of  the 
wars  which  raged  for  ages.  The  world  now  has  but  the 
faintest  conception  of  the  seas  of  blood  and  woe  through 
which  humanity  has  waded  to  attain  even  its  present  feeble 
recognition  of  fraternity. 


IVAN     IV. HIS      MINORITY.  207 

In  this,  as  in  every  war  with  Pohmd,  Russia  was  gaining, 
ever  wresting  from  her  rival  the  provinces  of  Lithuania,  and 
attaching  them  to  the  gigantic  empire.  In  the  year  loo-t, 
Helena  commenced  the  enterprise  of  surrounding  the  whole 
of  Moscow  with  a  ditch,  and  a  wall  capable  of  resisting  the 
batterings  of  artillery.  An  Italian  engineer,  named  Petrok 
Maloi,  superintended  these  works.  Tiie  foundation  of  the 
walls  was  laid  with  imposing  religious  ceremonies.  The  wall 
was  crowned  with  four  towers  at  the  opening  of  the  four 
gates.  Helene  was  so  conscious  of  the  importance  of  aug- 
menting the  population  of  Russia,  that  she  offered  land  and 
fi-eedom  from  taxes  for  a  term  of  years  to  all  who  would  mi- 
grate into  her  territory  from  Poland.  Perhaps  also  she  had  a 
double  object,  wishing  to  weaken  a  rival  power.  Much  coun- 
terfeit coin  was  found  to  be  in  circulation.  The  regent  issued 
an  edict,  that  any  one  found  guilty  of  de])reciating  the  cur- 
rent standard  of  coin,  should  be  punished  with  death,  and 
this  death  was  to  be  barbarously  inflicted  by  flrst  cutting  off 
the  hands  of  the  culprit,  and  then  pouring  melted  lead  tiirough 
a  tunnel  down  his  throat. 

On  the  3d  of  April,  1538,  Helene,  in  the  prime  of  life,  and 
with  all  her  sins  in  full  vigor  and  unrepented,  retired  to  her 
bed  at  night,  suddenly  and  seriously  sick.  Some  one  had 
succeeded  in  administering  to  her  a  dose  of  poison.  She 
shrieked  for  a  few  hours  in  mortal  agony,  and  soon  after  the 
hour  of  twelve  was  tolled,  her  spirit  ascended  to  meet  God  in 
judgment.  Being  dead,  she  had  no  favors  to  confer  and  no 
terrors  to  execute  ;  and  her  festering  remains  were  the  same 
day  hui'ried  ignominiously  to  the  grave.  Her  paramour, 
Telennef,  alone  wept  over  her  death.  Russia  rejoiced,  and 
yet  with  trembling.  Whose  strong  arm  would  now  seize  the 
helm  of  the  tempest-torn  ship  of  State,  no  one  could  tell. 

The  young  })riiice,  Ivan  IV.,  was  Itut  seven  years  of  age 
at  the  death  of  his  mother  Helene.  For  sc!veral  days  there 
was  ominous  silence  in  Moscow,  the  stillness  which  precedes 


208  THE     EMPIRE      OP     RUSSIA. 

the  storm.  The  death  of  the  regent  had  come  so  suddenly, 
so  unexpectedly,  that  none  were  prepared,  for  it.  A  week 
})assed  away,  during  which  time  parties  were  forming  and 
conspiracies  ]-ipening,  while  Tclcnnef  was  desperately  en- 
deavoring to  retain  that  power  which  he  had  so  despotically 
wielded  in  conjunction  with  his  royal  mistress.  The  prince 
Vassili  Schouisky,  who  had  occupied  the  first  place  in  the 
councils  of  Vassili,  opened  the  drama.  Having  secured  the 
cooperation  of  a  large  number  of  nobles,  he  declared  himself 
the  head  of  the  government,  arrested  all  the  favorites  of 
Helene,  and  threw  Telennef,  bound  with  chains,  into  a  dun 
geon.  There  he  was  left  to  die  of  starvation — barbarity, 
which,  though  in  accordance  with  that  brutal  age,  even  all 
the  similar  excesses  of  Telennef  could  not  justify.  The 
beautiful  sister  of  Telennef,  Agrippene  by  name,  was  torn 
from  the  saloons  her  loveliness  had  embellished,  and  was  im- 
prisoned for  life  in  a  convent.  The  victims  of  the  cruelty  of 
Helene,  who  were  still  languishing  in  prison,  were  set  at 
liberty. 

Schouisky  was  a  widower,  and  in  the  fiftieth  year  of  his 
age.  He  wished  to  strengthen  his  power  by  engaging  the 
cooperation  of  the  still  formidable  energies  of  the  horde  at 
Kezan,  and  accordingly  mairied,  quite  hurriedly,  the  daughter 
of  the  czar  of  the  horde.  But  the  regal  diadem  proved  to  him 
but  a  crown  of  thoi'ns.  Conspiracy  succeeded  conspiracy,  and 
Schouisky  felt  compelled  to  enlist  all  the  terrors  of  the  dun- 
geon, the  scaflbld  and  the  block  to  maintain  his  place.  Six 
months  only  passed  away,  ere  he  too  was  writhing  upon  the 
royal  couch  in  the  agonies  of  death,  whether  paralyzed  by 
poison  or  smitten  by  the  hand  of  God,  the  day  of  judgment 
alone  can  reveal. 

Ivan  Schouisky,  the  brother  of  the  deceased  usurper,  now 
stepped  into  the  dangerous  post  which  death  had  so  suddenly 
rendered  vacant.  He  was  a  weak  man,  assuming  the  most 
l)ompous  airs,   quite  unable  to  discriminate  betw'een  impos- 


IVAN     IV  , H  IS     MIXORITY.  209 

iiig  grandeur  and  ridiculous  parade.  He  soon  became  both 
despised  and  detested.  Tliis  state  of  things  encouraged  the 
two  hordes  of  Kezan  and  Tauride  to  unite,  and  with  an  army 
of  a  hundred  thousand  men  they  penetrated  Russia  almost 
unopposed,  burning  and  plundering  in  all  directions. 

Under  these  circunistanocs  the  metropolitan  bishop,  Joseph, 
a  man  of  sincere  piety  and  of  very  elevated  character,  and  wlio 
enjoyed  in  the  highest  degree  the  confidence  both  of  the  aris- 
tocracy and  of  the  joeople,  presented  himself  before  the  coun- 
cil, urged  the  incapacity  of  Ivan  Schouisky  to  govern,  and 
proposed  that  Ivan  Belsky,  a  nobleman  of  great  energy  and 
moral  worth,  should  be  chosen  regent.  The  2>roposal  was 
carried  by  acclamation.  So  unanimous  was  the  vote,  so  cor- 
dial was  the  adoption  of  the  republican  pi-inciple  of  election, 
that  Ivan  Schouisky  was  powerless  and  was  merely  dismissed. 

The  new  regent,  sustained  by  the  clergy  and  the  aristoc- 
racy, governed  the  State  with  wisdom  and  moderation.  All 
kinds  of  persecution  ceased,  and  vigorous  measures  were 
adopted  for  the  promotion  of  the  public  welfare.  Old  abuses 
were  repressed;  vicious  governors  deposed,  ani  the  rising- 
flames  of  civil  strife  were  quenched.  Even  the  hitherto  un- 
heard-of novelty  of  trial  by  jury  was  introduced.  Jurors  were 
chosen  from  among  the  most  intelligent  citizens.  Though 
there  was  some  bitter  opposition  among  the  corrupt  nobles  to 
these  salutary  reforins,  the  clei-gy,  as  a  body,  sustained  them, 
and  so  did  also  even  a  majority  of  the  lords.  It  was  Chris- 
tianity and  the  church  which  introduced  these  humanizing 
measures. 

Among  the  innumerable  tragedies  of  those  days,  let  one 
be  mentioned  illustrative  of  the  terrific  wrongs  to  which  all 
are  exposed  under  a  despotic  government.  There  was  a 
young  prince,  Dmitri,  a  child,  grandson  of  Vassili  the  blind, 
whose  claims  to  tlie  throne  were  feared.  He  was  thrown  into 
prison  and  tliere  forgotton.  For  forty-nine  years  he  had  now 
remained  in  a  damp  and  dismal  dungeon.     He  had  committed 


210  THE     K  HP  IRK      OF      RUSSIA. 

no  crime.  He  was  accused  of  no  crime.  It  was  only  feared 
that  restive  nobles  might  use  him  as  an  instrument  for  the 
furtherance  of  their  plans.  All  the  years  of  youth  and  of 
manhood  had  passed  in  darkness  and  misery.  No  beam  of 
the  sun  ever  penetrated  his  tomb.  All  unheeded  the  tides 
of  life  surged  in  the  world  above  him,  while  his  mind  with  his 
body  was  wasting  away  in  the  long  agony. 

"  0  who  cau  tell  what  days,  what  nights  he  spent, 
Of  tideless,  waveless,  sailless,  shoreless  woe." 

Mercy  now  entered  his  cell,  but  it  was  too  late  even  for  that 
angel  visitant  to  bring  a  gleam  of  joy.  His  friends  were  all 
dead.  His  name  was  forgotten  on  earth.  He  knew  nothing 
of  the  world  or  of  its  ways.  His  mind  was  enfeebled,  and 
even  the  slender  stock  of  knowledge  which  he  had  possessed 
as  a  child,  had  vanished  away.  They  broke  oft' his  chains  and 
removed  him  from  his  dungeon  to  a  comfortable  chamber. 
The  poor  old  man,  dazzled  by  the  light  and  bewildered  by 
the  change,  lingered  joylessly  and  without  a  smile  for  a  few 
weeks  and  died.  Iiomortality  alone  ofiers  a  solution  for  these 
mysteries.     "After  death  cometh  the  judgment." 

The  Christian  bishop,  Joseph,  and  Ivan  Belsky,  the  regent, 
in  cordial  cooperation,  endeavored  in  all  things  to  promote 
prosperity  and  happiness.  Again  there  was  a  coalition  of  the 
Tartars  for  the  invasion  of  Russia.  The  three  hordes,  in 
Kezan,  in  the  Tauride  and  at  the  mouth  of  the  Volga,  united, 
and  in  an  army  one  hundred  thousand  strong,  with  numerous 
cavalry  and  jjowerful  artillery,  commenced  their  march.  The 
Kussian  troops  were  hastily  collected  ui)on  the  banks  of  the 
Oka,  there  to  take  their  stand  and  disi^ute  the  passage  of  the 
stream.  By  order  of  the  clergy,  ])rayers  were  offered  inces- 
santly in  the  churches  by  day  and  by  night,  that  God  would 
avert  this  terrible  invasion.  The  young  ])rince,  Ivan  IV.,  was 
now  ten  years  of  age.  The  citizens  of  Moscow  were  moved 
to  tears  and  to  the  deepest  enthusiasm  on  hearing  their  young 


IVAN      I  V  . U  IS     MINORITY.  211 

prince,  in  the  church  of  the  Assumption,  offer  aloud  and  fer- 
vently the  prayer, 

"  Oh  heavenly  Father  !  thou  who  didst  protect  our  an- 
cestors against  the  cruel  Tamerlane,  take  us  also  under  thy 
holy  protection — us  in  childhood  and  orphanage.  Our  mind 
and  our  body  are  still  feeble,  and  yet  the  nation  looks  to  us 
for  deliverance.'' 

Accompanied  by  the  metropolitan  Joseph,  he  entered  the 
council  and  said, 

"The  enemy  is  approaching.  Decide  for  me  whether  it 
be  best  that  I  should  remain  here  or  go  to  meet  the  foe." 

With  one  voice  they  exclaimed,  "  Prince,  remain  at  Mos- 
cow." 

They  then  took  a  solemn  oath  to  die,  if  necessary,  for 
their  prince.  The  citizens  came  forward  in  crowds  and  volun- 
teered for  the  defense  of  the  walls.  The  faubourgs  were  sur- 
rounded with  pallisades,  and  batteries  of  artillery  were  placed 
to  sweep,  in  all  directions,  the  approaches  to  the  city.  Tlie 
enthusiasm  was  so  astonishing  that  the  Russian  annalists  as- 
cribe it  to  a  supernatural  cause.  On  the  30th  of  July,  1541, 
the  Tartar  army  appeared  upon  the  southern  banks  of  the 
Oka,  crowning  all  the  heights  which  bordered  the  stream. 
Immediately  they  made  an  attempt  to  force  the  passage. 
But  the  Russians,  thoroughly  prepared  for  the  assault,  re- 
pelled them  with  prodigious  slaughter.  Night  i)ut  an  end  to 
the  contest.  The  Russians  were  elated  with  their  success,  and 
waited  eagerly  for  the  morning  to  renew  tlie  strife.  They 
even  hoped  to  be  able  to  cross  the  river  and  to  sweep  the 
camp  of  their  fjcs.  The  fires  of  their  bivouacs  blazed  all  the 
night,  reinforcements  were  continually  arriving,  and  their 
songs  of  Joy  lloated  across  the  water,  and  lell  heavily  upon 
the  hearts  of  the  dismayed  Tartars. 

At  midnight  the  khan,  and  the  whole  host,  conscious  of 
their  peril,  (;onunt'n(;L'd  a  precipitate  retreat,  in  their  haste 
abandoning  many  guns  and   much  of  their  baggage.     The 


212  THE     EMPIEE     OF      RUSSIA. 

Russians  pursued  the  foe,  but  were  not  able  to  overtake  tliem, 
so  rapidly  did  tliey  retrace  their  steps. 

The  news  of  the  expulsion  of  the  enemy  spread  rapidly 
through  Russia.  The  conduct  of  the  grand  prince  every- 
where excited  the  most  lively  enthusiasm.  He  entered  the 
church,  and  in  an  aflecting  prayer  returned  thanks  to  God  for 
the  deliveiance.     The  people,  with  unanimity,  exclaimed, 

"  Grand  prince,  your  angelic  prayers  and  your  haj^py  star 
have  caused  us  to  triumph." 

Awful,  however,  were  the  woes  which  fell  upon  those  peo- 
ple who  were  on  the  line  of  march  of  tlie  barbaric  Tartars. 

Ivan  Belsky,  the  regent,  had  now  attained  the  highest  degree 
of  good  fortune,  and  in  his  own  conscience,  and  in  the  gen- 
eral approbation  of  the  people,  he  found  ample  recompense 
for  his  deeds  of  humanity,  and  his  patriotic  exertions.  But 
envy,  that  poison  of  society,  raised  up  against  him  enemies. 
Ivan  Schouisky,  who  had  been  deposed  by  vote  of  the  coun- 
cil, organized  a  conspiracy  among  the  disaffected  nobles,  and 
on  the  night  of  the  3d  of  January,  1542,  three  hundred  cava- 
liers surrounded  the  residences  of  the  regent  and  of  the  met- 
ropolitan bishop,  seized  them  and  hurried  them  to  prison, 
and  in  the  prison  finished  their  work  by  the  assassination  of 
Ivan  Belsky. 

Ivan  Schouisky,  sustained  by  the  sabers  of  his  partisans, 
reassumed  the  government.  A  new  metropolitan  bishop,  Ma- 
caire  was  appointed  to  take  the  place  of  Joseph,  who  was  de- 
posed and  impi'isoned.  The  clergy,  overawed,  were  silent. 
The  reign  of  silence  was  again  commenced,  and  all  the  posts 
of  honor  and  influence  were  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  parti- 
sans of  Schouisky.  The  government,  such  as  it  was,  was  now 
in  the  hands  of  a  triumvirate  consisting  of  Ivan,  Andre  and 
Feodor.  Not  a  syllable  of  opposition  would  these  men  en- 
dure, and  the  dungeon  and  the  assassin's  i)oignard  silenced  all 
murmurs.  The  young  prince,  Ivan  IV.,  was  now  thirteen 
years  of  age.     He  was  endowed  by  nature  with  a  mind  of 


IVAN      IV, HIS      MINORITY.  213 

extraordinary  sagacity  and  force,  but  his  education  had  been 
entirely  neglected,  and  the  scenes  of  perfidy  and  violence  he 
was  continually  witnessing  were  developing,  a  chanicter  which 
menaced  Russia  with  many  woes. 

The  infimious  Schiouskies  sought  to  secure  the  friendship  of 
the  young  prince  by  ministering,  in  every  possible  way,  to  his 
pleasures.  They  led  him  to  the  chase,  encouraged  whatever 
disposition  he  chanced  to  manifest,  and  endeavored  to  train 
him  in  a  state  of  feebleness  and  ignorance  whicli  might  pro- 
mote their  ambitious  plans.  The  Kremlin  became  the  scene 
of  constant  intrigues.  Cabal  succeeded  cabal.  The  position 
of  the  triumvirate  became,  month  after  month,  more  perilous. 
The  young  prince  gave  decisive  indications  of  discontent.  It 
began  to  be  whispered  into  his  ears  that  it  was  time  for  him 
to  assume  tlie  reins  of  government,  and  he  was  assured  that 
all  Russia  was  waiting,  eager  to  obey  his  orders.  The  metro- 
politan bishop,  either  from  a  sense  of  justice  or  of  policy,  also 
espoused  the  cause  of  the  youthful  sovereign.  It  was  evident 
that  another  party  was  rising  into  power. 

On  the  29th  of  December,  1534,  Ivan  IV.  went  with  a 
large  party  of  his  lords  to  the  chase.  Instructed  beforehand 
in  the  measures  he  was  to  adopt,  he,  quite  unexpectedly  to 
the  triumvirate,  summoned  all  his  lords  fii'ound  him,  and, 
assuming  an  imperious  and  threatening  tone,  declared  that 
the  triumvirate  had  abused  his  extreme  youth,  liad  trampled 
upon  justice,  and,  as  culprits,  deserved  to  die.  In  his  great 
clemency,  however,  he  decided  to  s])are  the  lives  of  two, 
executing  only  one  as  an  example  to  the  nation.  The  oldest 
of  the  three,  Andre  Schouisky,  was  immediately  seized  and 
handed  over  to  the  conductors  of  the  hounds.  Tiiey  set  the 
dogs  upon  him,  and  he  was  speedily  torn  to  pieces  in  the 
presence  of  the  com2)any,  and  his  mangled  remains  were  scat- 
tered over  the  plain. 

The  partisans  of  Scliouisky,  terrified  by  this  deed,  were 
afraid  to  utter  a  murmur.    The  nobles  generally  were  alarmed, 


214  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

for  it  was  evident  that  though  they  had  escaped  tlie  violence 
of  the  triumvirate,  they  had  fallen  into  hands  equally  to  be 
dreaded.  Confiscations  and  other  acts  of  rigor  rapidly  suc- 
ceeded, and  the  young  prince,  still  too  youthful  to  govern  by 
the  decision  of  his  own  mind,  was  quite  under  the  control  of 
the  Glinskys,  through  whose  council  he  had  shaken  off  the 
triumvirate  of  the  Schouiskies,  Ivan  TV.  now  made  the  tour 
of  his  kingdom,  but  with  no  other  object  than  the  promotion 
of  his  personal  gratification.  Most  of  his  time  was  devoted  to 
the  excitements  of  the  chase  in  the  savage  forests  which 
spread  over  a  large  portion  of  his  realms.  He  was  always 
surrounded  by  a  brilliant  staff  of  nobles,  and  the  sufferings 
of  the  people  were  all  concealed  from  his  view.  The  enormous 
expenses  of  his  court  were  exacted  from  the  people  he  visited, 
and  his  steps  were  followed  by  lamentations. 

In  the  year  1546,  Ivan  attained  the  eighteenth  year  of  his 
ago,  and  made  gi-eat  preparations  for  his  coronation.  The 
imposing  rites  were  to  be  performed  at  Moscow.  On  the 
16th  of  January,  the  grand  prince  entered  one  of  the  saloons 
of  his  palaces  while  the  nobles,  the  princes,  the  officers  of  the 
court,  all  richly  dressed,  were  assembled  in  the  ante-chamber. 
The  confessor  of  the  grand  prince,  having  received  from  Ivan 
IV.  a  crucifix,  i^laced  it  upon  a  plate  of  gold  with  the  crown 
and  other  regalia,  and  conveyed  them  to  the  church  of  the 
Assumption  accompanied  by  the  grand  equerry,  Glinsky,  and 
other  important  personages  of  the  court.  Soon  after,  the 
grand  prince  also  repaired  to  the  church.  He  was  preceded 
by  an  ecclesiastic  holding  in  his  hand  a  crucifix,  and  sprink- 
ling to  the  right  and  to  the  left  holy  water  upon  the  crowd. 

Ivan  IV.,  surrounded  by  all  the  splendors  of  his  court, 
entered  the  church,  where  he  was  encircled  by  the  ecclesias- 
tics, and  received  the  benediction  of  the  metrojjolitan  bishop. 
A  hymn  was  then  sang  by  the  accumulated  choirs,  which  as- 
toimded  the  audience  ;  after  which  mass  was  celebrated.  In 
tlie  midst  of  the  cathedral,  a  platform  was  erected,  which  was 


IVAN     IV. HIS     MINORITY  215 

ascended  by  twelve  steps.  Upon  this  platform  there  were 
two  thrones  of  equal  splendor,  covered  with  cloth  of  gold, 
one  for  the  monarch,  the  other  for  the  metropolitan  bishop. 
In  front  of  the  stage  there  was  a  desk,  richly  decorated,  upon 
which  were  placed  the  crown  regalia.  The  monarch  and  the 
bishop  took  their  seats.  The  bishop,  rising,  pronounced  a 
benediction  upon  the  monarch,  placed  the  crown  upon  his 
head,  the  scepter  in  his  hand,  and  then,  with  a  loud  voice, 
prayed  that  God  would  endow  this  new  David  with  the  in- 
fluences of  the  Holy  Spirit,  establish  his  throne  in  righteous- 
ness, and  render  him  terrible  to  evil  doers  and  a  benefactor 
to  those  who  should  do  well.  The  ceremonies  were  closed  by 
an  anthem  by  the  choir.  The  young  emperor  then  returned, 
with  his  court,  to  the  Kremlin,  through  streets  carpeted  with 
velvet  and  damask.  As  they  walked  along,  the  emperor's 
brother,  Youri,  scattered  among  the  crowd  handsfull  of  gold 
coiUj  which  he  took  from  a  vase  carried  at  his  side  by  Michel 
Glinsky.  The  moment  Ivan  IV.  left  the  church,  the  people, 
till  then  motionless  and  silent,  precipitated  themselves  uj^on 
the  platform,  and  all  the  rich  cloths  which  had  decorated  it 
were  torn  to  shreds,  each  individual  eager  to  possess  a  sou- 
venir of  the  memorable  day. 


CHAPTER    XIII. 

THE     REiaN     OP    IVAN    IV. 
From  1546  to  1552. 

The  Title  of  Tzar. — ^Marriage  op  Ivan  IV. — Virtiies  of  His  Bkide. — Depraved 
Character  of  the  Young  Kmperor. — Terrible  Conflagrations.— Insurrec- 
tions.— The  Ukisuke. — Wondkrpul  Change  in  the  Character  of  Ivan  IV.—. 
Confessions  of  Sin  and  Measures  of  Reform. — Sylvestre  and  Alexis  Adachef. 
— The  Code  of  Laws. — Reforms  in  the  Church. — Encouragement  to  Men  op 
Science  and  Letters. — The  Embassage  of  Schlit. — War  with  Kezan. — Disas- 
ters AND  Disgrace. — I.m.mense  Preparation  for  the  Chastisement  of  the  Horde. 
— The  March. — Repulse  of  the  Tauredians. — Siege  of  Kezan. — Incidents  of 
the  Siege. 

rPHOUGH  the  monarchs  of  Russia,  in  all  their  relations  with 
-L  foreign  powers,  took  the  title  of  Tzar  or  Emperor,  they 
also  retained  that  of  Grand  Prince  which  was  consecrated  by 
ancient  usage.  And  now  the  envoys  of  Ivan  IV.  were  traver- 
sing Russia  in  all  directions  to  find,  among  the  maidens  of 
noble  blood,  one  uhose  beauty  would  render  her  worthy  of 
the  sovereign.  The  choice  at  last  fell  upon  Anastasia,  the 
daughter  of  a  lady  of  illustrious  rank,  who  was  a  widow. 
Language  is  exhausted,  by  the  Russian  annalists,  in  describ- 
ing the  perfections  of  lier  person,  mind  and  heart.  All  con- 
ceivable social  and  moral  excellences  were  in  her  united  with 
the  most  brilliant  intellectual  gifts  and  the  most  exquisite 
loveliness. 

The  marriage  was  performed  by  the  bishop  in  the  church 
of  Notre  Dame.  "  You  are  now,"  said  the  metropolitan,  in 
conclusion,  "  united  for  ever,  by  virtue  of  the  mysteries  of  the 
gospel.  Prostrate  yourselves,  then,  before  the  Most  High, 
and  secure  his  favor  by  the  j^ractice  of  every  virtue.  But 
tliose  virtues  which  should  especially  distinguish  you,  are  the 


THE     REIGN      OF     IVAN     IV.  217 

love  of  truth  and  of  benevolence.  Prince,  love  and  honor 
your  spouse.  Pnucess,  truly  Christian,  be  submissive  to 
your  husbaud;  for  as  the  Redeemer  is  the  head  of  the 
church,  so  is  man  the  head  of  the  woman." 
j  For  many  days  Moscow  was  surrendered  to  festivity  and 
rejoicings.  The  emperor  devoted  his  attention  to  the  rich, 
the  empress  to  the  poor.  Anastasia,  since  the  death  of  her 
father,  had  lived  remote  from  the  capital,  in  the  most  pro- 
found rural  seclusion.  Suddenly,  and  as  by  magic,  she  found 
herself  transported  to  the  scenes  of  the  highest  earthly  grand- 
eur, but  still  she  maintained  the  same  beautiful  simpHcity  of 
character  which  she  had  developed  in  the  saddened  home  of 
her  widowed  mother.  Ivan  IV.  was  a  man  of  ungovernable 
passions,  and  accustomed  only  to  idleness,  he  devoted  himself 
to  the  most  gross  and  ignoble  pleasures.  Mercilessly  he  con- 
fiscated the  estates  of  those  who  displeased  him,  and  with 
caprice  equal  to  his  mercilessuess,  he  conferred  their  posses- 
sions upon  his  favorites.  lie  seemed  to  regard  this  arbitrary 
conduct  as  indicative  of  his  independence  and  grandeur. 

The  situation  of  Russia  was  perhaps  never  more  deplora- 
ble than  at  the  commencement  of  the  reign  of  Ivan  IV.  The 
Glinskys  were  in  high  fiivor,  and  easily  persuaded  the  young- 
emperor  to  gratify  all  their  desires.  Laden  with  honors  and 
riches,  they  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  all  the  murmurs  which  des- 
potism, the  most  atrocious,  extorted  from  every  portion  of 
the  empire.  Tlie  inhabitants  of  Pskof,  oppressed  beyond  en- 
durance by  an  infamous  governor,  sent  seventy  of  their  most 
iutiuential  citizens  to  Moscow  to  present  their  grievances  to 
the  emperor.  Ivan  IV.  raved  like  a  madman  at  what  he 
called  tlie  insolence  of  his  subjects,  in  complaining  of  their 
governor.  Almost  choking  with  rage,  lie  oi'dered  the  seventy 
deputies  to  be  put  to  death  by  the  most  cruel  tortures. 

Anastasia  wept  in  anguish  over  these  scenes,  and  her 
prayers  were  incessantly  ascending,  that  God  would  change 
the  heart  of  her  husband.     Her   prayers  were  heard  and  ari- 

10 


218  THE     EMPIRE     OP     RUSSIA. 

swered.  The  same  power  whicli  changed  Saul  of  Tarsus  into 
Paul  the  Apostle,  seemed  to  renew  the  soul  of  Ivan  IV. 
History  is  full  of  these  marvelous  transformations — a  mental 
phenomenon  only  to  be  explained  by  the  scriptural  doctrine 
of  regeneration.  In  Ivan's  case,  as  in  tliat  of  thousands  of 
others,  afflictions  were  instruments  made  available  by  the 
Holy  Spirit  for  the  heart's  renewal. 

Moscow  was  at  this  time  a  capital  of  vast  extent  and  of 
great  magnificence.  As  timber  was  abundant  and  easily 
worked,  most  of  the  buildings,  even  the  churches  and  the 
palaces,  were  constructed  of  wood.  Though  almost  every 
house  was  surrounded  by  a  garden,  these  enclosures  were  ne- 
cessarily not  extensive,  and  the  city  was  peculiarly  exposed  to 
the  perils  of  conflagration. 

On  the  12th  of  April,  1547,  the  cry  of  fire  alarmed  the  in- 
habitants, and  soon  the  flames  were  spreading  \vith  fury  which 
bafiled  all  human  power.  The  store-houses  of  commerce,  the 
magazines  of  the  crown,  the  convent  of  Epiphany  and  a  large 
number  of  dwellings,  extending  from  the  gate  of  Illinsky,  to 
the  Kremlin  and  the  Moskwa,  were  consumed.  The  river 
alone  arrested  tlie  destruction.  A  powder  magazine  took  fire, 
and  with  a  terrible  explosion  its  towers  were  thrown  into  the 
air,  taking  with  tliem  a  large  section  of  the  walls.  The  ruins 
fell  like  an  avalanche  into  the  river,  completely  filling  up  its 
channel,  adding  the  destruction  of  a  deluge  to  that  of  the 
fire. 

A  week  had  hardly  passed  ere  the  cry  of  fire  again  was 
raised,  and,  in  a  i'ew  hours,  the  whole  section  of  the  city  on 
the  other  side  of  the  Yaouza  was  in  ashes.  Tliis  region  was 
mostly  occui)ied  by  nu'chauics  and  inanuficlurers,  and  im- 
mense suffering  ensued.  Six  weeks  elapsed,  and  the  inhabi- 
tants were  just  beginning  to  recover  from  their  consternation, 
and  were  sweeping  away  the  ashes  to  rebuild,  when  on  the 
20th  of  June,  the  wind  at  the  time  blowing  a  gale,  the  fearful 
cry  of  fire  again  rang  through  tlie  streets.     The  palaces  of 


TUE     REIGN     OF      IVAN      IV.  219 

the  nobles  were  now  in  flames.  The  palace  of  the  Kremlin 
itself,  the  gorgeous  streets  which  surrounded  it,  and  the 
whole  of  the  grand  faubourg  in  a  few  moments  were  glowing 
like  a  furnace.  God  had  come  with  flaming  fire  as  his  minis- 
ter of  vengeance,  and  resistance  was  unavailing.  The  whole 
city  was  now  in  ashes,  and  presented  the  aspect  of  an  im- 
mense funeral  pile,  over  which  was  spread  a  pall  of  thick  and 
black  smoke.  The  wooden  edifices  disappeared  entirely. 
Those  of  stone  and  brick  presented  a  still  more  gloomy  as- 
pect, with  only  portions  of  their  walls  standing,  crumbling  and 
blackened.  The  howling  of  the  tempest,  the  roar  of  the 
flames,  the  crash  of  tailing  buildings,  and  the  shrieks  of  the 
inhabitants,  were  all  frecpiently  overpowered  by  the  ex- 
plosions of  the  powder  magazines  in  the  arsenals  of  the 
Kremlin. 

To  many  of  the  people  it  seemed  that  the  day  of  judg- 
ment had  actually  arrived,  that  the  trump  of  the  archangel 
was  sounding,  and  that  the  final  conflagration  had  arrived. 
The  palace  of  the  emperor,  his  treasures,  his  precious  things, 
his  arras,  his  venerated  images  and  the  archives  of  the  king- 
dom, all  were  devoured.  Tiie  destruction  of  the  city  was 
almost  as  entire  and  as  signal  a  proof  of  the  divine  displeas- 
ure as  that  of  Sodom  and  Gomorrah.  Even  the  metrojjolitan 
bishop,  who  was  in  the  church  of  the  Assumption,  plead- 
ing for  divine  interposition,  was  with  great  difliculty  rescued. 
Smothered,  and  in  a  state  almost  of  insensibility,  he  Avas  con- 
veyed through  billows  of  flame  and  smoke.  Seventeen  hun- 
dred adults,  besides  uncounted  children,  perished  in  the  fire. 

For  many  days  the  wretched  inhabitants  were  seen  wan- 
dering about,  in  the  fields  and  among  the  ruins,  searching  lor 
their  children,  their  friends  or  any  articles  of  furniture  which 
might,  by  chance,  have  escaped  the  flames.  Many  became 
maniacs,  and  their  cries  arose  in  all  directions  like  the  bowl- 
ings of  wild  beasts.  The  emi)eror  and  the  nobles,  to  avoid 
the  spectacle  of  so   much  misery,  retired  to  the  village  of 


220  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

Vorobeif,  a  few  miles  from  Moscow.  The  whole  jiopulation 
of  Moscow,  being  in  a  state  of  despair,  and  reckless  of  conse- 
quences, were  ripe  for  any  conspiracy  against  an  emperor  and 
his  favorites,  whose  iniquities,  in  their  judgment,  had  brought 
down  upon  them  the  indignation  of  Heaven. 

Several  of  the  higher  clergy,  in  cooperation  with  some  of 
the  princes  and  nobles,  resolved  to  arouse  the  energies  of  the 
populace  to  effect  a  change  in  the  government.  The  Glin- 
skys  were  the  advisers  and  instigators  of  the  king.  Against 
them  the  fury  of  the  populace  was  easily  directed.  These 
doomed  minions  of  despotism  were  pursued  with  fury  ener- 
gized by  despair.  Ivan  IV.  was  quite  unable  to  protect  them. 
The  Glinskys,  with  their  numerous  partisans,  had  returned  to 
Moscow  to  make  arrangements  for  the  rebuilding  of  the 
Kremlin  when  the  mob  fell  upoji  them,  and  they  were  nearly 
all  slain.  In  the  eye  of  the  populace,  there  was  something  so 
sacred  in  the  person  of  their  prince  that  no  one  thought  of 
oflering  him  any  harm. 

Ivan  IV.,  astounded  by  this  outbreak,  was  trembling  in 
his  palace  at  Vorobeif,  and  his  truly  pious  wife,  Anastasia, 
was,  with  tears,  pleading  with  Heaven,  when  one  of  the 
clergy,  an  extraordinary  man  named  Sylvestre,  endowed  with 
the  boldness  of  an  ancient  pi'ophet,  entered  the  presence  of 
the  emperor.  He  was  venerable  in  years,  and  his  gray  locks 
^  fell  in  clusters  upon  his  shoulders.  The  boy  king  was  over- 
awed by  his  appearance.  One  word  from  that  capricious 
king  would  cause  the  head  of  Sylvestre  to  fall  from  the  block. 
But  the  intrepid  Christian,  with  the  solemnity  of  an  embassa- 
dor from  God,  with  pointed  finger  and  eye  sparkling  witii 
indignation,  thus  addressed  him  : 

"  God's  avenging  hand  is  suspended  over  the  head  of  a 
God-forgetting,  man-oppressing  tzar.  Fire  from  heaven  has 
consumed  Moscow.  The  anger  of  the  Most  High  has  called 
up  the  people  in  revolt,  and  is  spreading  over  the  kingdom 
anarchy,  fury  and  blood." 


THE     REIGN      OF     IVAN     lY.  221 

Then  taking  from  his  bosom  a  copy  of  the  New  Testa- 
ment, he  read  to  the  kuig  those  divinely-inspired  precepts 
which  are  alike  applicable  to  monarchs  and  peasants,  and,  in 
tones  subdued  by  sadness,  urged  the  king  to  follow  these  sacred 
lessons.  The  warning  was  heeded,  and  Ivan  became  "  a  new 
creature."  Whatever  explanations  philosophy  may  attempt 
of  the  sudden  and  marvelous  change  of  the  character  of  Ivan 
IV.,  the  fact  remains  one  of  the  marvels  of  history.  He  ap- 
pears to  have  l)een  immediately  overwhelmed  with  a  sense 
of  his  guilt ;  with  tears  he  extended  his  hand  to  the  cour- 
ageous monitor,  asked  imploringly  what  he  could  do  to  avert 
the  wrath  and  secure  the  favor  of  Heaven,  and  placed  himself 
at  once  under  the  guidance  of  his  new-found  friend. 

Sylvestre,  a  humble,  world-renouncing  Christian,  sought 
nothing  for  himself"  and  would  accej^t  neither  riches  nor  hon- 
ors, but  he  remained  near  the  throne  to  strengthen  the  young 
monarch  in  his  good  resolutions.  There  was  a  youjig  man, 
Alexis  Adachef,  connected  with  the  court  who  possessed  a 
character  of  extraordinary  nobleness  and  loveliness.  He  was 
of  remarkable  personal  beauty,  and  his  soul  was  pure  and 
sensitive.  Entirely  devoted  to  the  good  of  others,  without 
the  least  apparent  mixture  of  sordid  motives,  he  engaged  in 
the  service  of  the  tzar,  and  became  to  him  a  friend  of  price- 
less value.  Alexis,  mingling  freely  "with  the  people,  was 
acquainted  with  all  their  wants  and  griefs,  and  he  cooperating 
with  Sylvestre,  inspired  the  emperor  with  a  heart  to  conceive 
and  energy  to  execute  all  good  things. 

From  this  conjunction  is  to  bo  dated  the  commencement 
of  the  glory  of  the  reign  of  Ivan  IV.  The  first  endeavor  of 
the  reformed  monarch  was  to  quell  the  tumult  among  the 
people.  Three  days  after  the  assassination  of  the  Glinskys, 
a  mob  from  Moscow  rushed  out  to  the  village  of  Vorobeif, 
surrounded  the  palace  and  demanded  one  of  the  aunts  of  the 
emperor  and  another  of  the  nobles  who  had  become  obnox- 
ious to  them.     The  king  immediately  opened  a  fire  upon  the 


222  THE     EMPIRE     OF     KUSSIA. 

mob  and  dispersed  thein.  This  decisive  act  restored  order. 
Ivan  IV,  immediately  devoted  all  his  energies  to  preparing 
dwellings  for  the  houseless  poor  and  in  relieving  tlieir  neces- 
sities. His  whole  soul  seemed  aroused  to  promote  the  happi- 
ness of  his  subjects,  both  temporal  and  spiritual,  and  nil  selfish 
considerations  were  apparently  obliterated  from  his  mind.  In 
order  to  consolidate,  by  the  aids  of  religion,  the  happy  change 
effected  in  the  government  and  in  his  own  heart,  the  young 
sovereign  shut  himself  up  for  several  days  in  solitude,  and,  in 
the  exercises  of  self-examination,  fasting  and  prayer,  made 
the  entire  consecration  of  himself  to  his  Maker.  He  then 
assembled  the  bishops  in  one  of  the  churches,  and,  in  their 
l^resence,  with  touching  words  and  tearful  eyes,  made  con- 
fession of  his  taults,  implored  divine  forgiveness,  and  then, 
with  the  calmness  of  a  soul  relieved  of  the  burden  of  sin, 
received  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper. 

With  true  nobility  of  soul,  he  wished  his  penitence  to  be 
as  conspicuous  as  his  sins  had  been.  He  resolved  to  humble 
liiraself  before  his  Maker  in  the  presence  of  all  Russia,  that 
his  subjects  universally  might  understand  the  new  principles 
which  animated  his  heart,  and  the  new  desires  which  would 
enlist  his  energies.  Every  city  in  the  empire  received  orders 
to  send  deputies  to  Moscow,  chosen  from  all  the  ranks  of  so- 
ciety, to  attend  to  matters  of  the  i;tniost  importance  to  the 
country.  Tlie  Sabbath  morning  after  their  arrival,  they  were 
all  assembletl,  an  immense  multitude,  in  one  of  the  public 
squares  of  the  city.  The  czar,  accompanied  by  the  clergy 
and  the  nobles,  left  tlie  palace  of  the  Kremlin  to  meet  the 
deputies.  The  solemnity  of  the  Sabbath  hallowed  the  scene, 
and  the  peoj)le  received  their  sovereign  in  profound  silence. 

The  metropolitan  bishop  first  offered  a  prayer.  Ivan  IV. 
thi'U,  standing  on  a  platform,  addressed  tlie  bishop  in  the  fol- 
lowing terms: 

"  Holy  father  !  Your  zeal  for  religion,  your  love  for  our 
country  are  well  known  to  me  ;  aid  me  in  ray  good  intentions. 


THE     KEIGN     OP     IVAN     IV.  223 

I  lost,  Avhile  an  inflint,  my  parents,  and  the  nobk's,  wlio  sought 
only  their  own  aggrandizement,  neglected  entin^ly  my  ediira- 
tion,  and  have  usurijed,  in  my  name,  wealth  and  power.  They 
have  enriched  themselves  by  injustice,  and  have  crushed  the 
poor  without  any  one  daring  to  check  their  ambition.  I  was, 
as  it  were,  both  deaf  and  dumb  in  my  deplorable  ignorance, 
for  I  heard  not  the  lamentations  of  the  poor,  and  my  words 
solaced  them  not  in  their  sorrows.  Who  can  tell  the  tears 
which  have  been  shed,  the  blood  which  has  flowed  ?  For  all 
these  things  the  judgment  of  God  is  to  be  feared." 

Bowing  then  on  all  sides  to  the  people,  the  monarch  con- 
tinuing, thus  addressed  them: 

"  O,  you  my  people,  whom  the  All-powerful  has  entrusted 
to  my  care,  I  invoke  this  day,  in  ray  behalf,  both  your  re- 
ligion and.  the  love  you  have  for  me.  It  is  impossible  to  re- 
pair past  faults,  but  I  will  hereafter  be  your  protector  from 
oppression  and  all  wi-ong.  Forget  those  griefs  which  shall 
never  be  renewed.  Lay  aside  every  subject  of  discord,  and 
let  Christian  love  fraternize  your  hearts.  From  this  day  I 
will  be  your  judge  and  your  defender." 

Religious  ceremonies,  simple  yet  imposing,  closed  this 
scene.  Alexis  Adachef  was  appointed  minister  of  justice, 
receiving  special  instructions  to  watch  the  empire  with  a 
vigilant  eye,  that  the  j)oor  especially  should  be  subject  to  no 
oppression.  From  that  moment  all  the  actions  of  tlie  sover- 
eign were  guided  by  the  counsels  of  Sylvestre  and  Adachef. 
Ivan  IV.  assembled  around  him  a  council  of  his  wisest  and 
best  men,  and  ever  presided  in  person  over  their  meetings. 
With  great  energy  he  entered  upon  the  work  of  establishing 
a  code  of  laws,  which  should  be  based  upon  the  love  of  jus- 
tice and  good,  order.  In  the  year  1550  this  important  code 
was  promulgated,  which  forms  almost  the  basis  of  Russian 
civilization. 

On  the  23d  of  February,  1551,  a  large  convention  of  the 
clergy,  of  the  nobles    and  of  the  principal   citizens  of   the 


224  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

empire,  was  assembled  at  the  Kremlin,  and  the  emperor 
presented  to  them,  for  their  own  consideration  and  approval, 
the  code  of  laws  which  had  been  framed.  The  mind  of  Ivan 
IV.  expanded  rapidly  under  these  noble  toils,  and  in  a  speech 
of  great  eloquence  he  urged  them  to  examine  these  laws,  to 
point  out  any  defects  and  to  cooperate  with  hira  in  every 
endeavor  for  the  j)rosperity  of  Russia. 

After  having  thus  settled  the  affairs  of  the  State,  the 
monarch  turned  his  attention  to  those  of  the  Church,  urging 
the  clergy  to  devote  themselves  to  the  work  of  ecclesiastical 
reform  ;  to  add  simplicity  to  the  ceremonies  of  i-eligion,  to 
prepare  books  of  piety  for  the  people,  to  train  up  a  thorough- 
ly instructed  clergy  for  the  pulpits,  to  establish  rules  for  the 
decorous  observance  of  divine  worship,  to  abolish  useless 
monasteries,  to  purify  the  convents  of  all  immorality,  and  to 
insist  that  ecclesiastics,  of  every  grade,  should  be  patterns  of 
piety  for  their  flocks.  The  clergy  eagerly  engaged  in  this 
plan  of  reform,  and  vied  with  their  Christian  monarch  in 
their  efforts  for  the  public  weal. 

Among  the  number  of  projects  truly  worthy  of  the  grand 
prince,  we  must  not  neglect  jjarticular  mention  of  his  attempt 
to  enrich  Russia  by  encouraging  the  emigration,  from  other 
lands,  of  men  distinguished  in  the  arts  and  sciences.  A  dis- 
tinguished German,  named  Schlit,  being  in  Moscow  in  1547, 
inibrmed  the  tzar  of  the  rapid  progress  Germany  was  making 
in  civilization  and  enlightenment.  Ivan  IV.  listened  attentive- 
ly, and  after  many  interviews  and  protracted  questionings, 
proposed  that  he  should  return  to  Germany  as  an  envoy  fi-om 
Russia,  and  invite,  in  his  name,  to  Moscow,  artists,  pliysiciaiis, 
apothecaries,  printers,  mechanics,  and  also  literary  men,  skilled 
in  the  languages,  dead  or  living,  and  learned  theologians. 

Schlit  accepted  the  mission  and  hastened  to  Augsburg, 
where  the  Emperor  Charles  V.  was  then  presiding  over  a 
diet.  Schlit  2:)resented  to  him  a  letter  from  Ivan  IV.  relative 
to  this  business.     Charles  was  a  little  doubtful  as  to  the  ex- 


THK     REIGN      OF     IVAN     IV.  225 

pediency  of  allowing  illustrious  men  from  liis  empire  to  emi- 
grate and  thus  add  to  the  consideration  and  power  of  a  rival 
kingdom.  Nevertheless,  after  a  long  deliberation  with  the 
assembled  States,  he  consented  to  gratify  the  tzar,  on  con- 
sideration that  he  would  engage,  by  oath,  not  to  allow  any  of 
the  artists  or  the  literati  to  pass  from  Russia  into  Turkey,  and 
that  he  would  not  employ  their  talents  in  any  manner  hurtful 
to  the  German  empire.  Turkey  was  at  that  time  assuming  an 
attitude  so  formidable,  that  it  was  deemed  expedient  to  in- 
crease the  power  of  Russia,  as  that  kingdom  might  thus  more 
etfectually  aid  as  a  barrier  against  the  Turks  ;  while,  at  the 
same  time,  it  was  deemed  a  matter  of  the  utmost  moment 
that  Turkey  should  receive  no  aid  whatever  from  Christian 
civilization. 

Charles  Y.  accordingly  gave  Schlit  a  written  commission 
to  raise  his  corps  of  emigrants.  He  soon  assembled  one  hun- 
dred and  twenty  illustrious  men  at  Lubeck,  where  they  were 
to  embark  for  Russia.  But,  in  the  mean  time,  the  opposition 
had  gained  ground,  and  even  Charles  V.  himself  had  become 
apprehensive  that  Russia,  thus  enlightened,  might  attain  to 
formidable  power.  He  accordingly  had  Schlit  arrested.  The 
corps  of  emigrants,  thus  deprived  of  their  leader,  and  conse- 
quently disheartened,  soon  dispersed.  Several  montlis  passed 
away  before  Ivan  IV,  received  intelligence  of  the  sad  fate  of 
his  envoy.  Though  the  plan  thus  failed,  nevertheless,  quite  a 
number  of  these  German  artists,  notwithstanding  the  prohi- 
bition of  the  emperor,  effected  their  escape  from  Germany, 
secretly  entered  Russia,  aiul  engaged  in  the  service  of  the 
tzar,  were  they  were  very  efficient  in  contributing  to  Russian 
civilization. 

The  barbarian  horde  at  Kezan  still  continued  to  annoy 
Russia  with  very  many  incursions.  Some  were  mere  petty 
forays,  others  were  extended  invasions,  but  all  were  alike 
merciless  and  bloody.  In  February,  1550,  Ivan  IV.,  then  but 
twenty  two  years  o'age,  placed  himself  at  the  head  of  a  large 

10* 


226  THE     EMPIRE     OF     RUSSIA. 

army  to  descend  the  Volga  and  punish  the  horde.  The  mon- 
arch was  young  and  totally  inexperienced  in  war.  A  series 
of  terrible  disasters  from  storms  and  floods  thinned  his  ranks, 
and  the  monarch  in  great  dejection  returned  to  Moscow  to 
replenish  his  forces.  Again,  early  in  December,  he  hastened 
to  meet  his  army  which  had  been  rendezvoused  at  Nigni 
Novgorod,  on  the  Volga,  about  three  hundred  miles  west  of 
Moscow.  In  the  early  spring  they  descended  the  river,  and 
in  great  force  encanjped  before  the  walls  of  Kezan.  The 
walls  were  of  wood.  The  Russians  were  sixty  thousand 
strong,  and  were  aided  with  several  batteries  of  ai-tillery. 
The  assault  was  immediately  commenced,  and  for  one  whole 
day  the  battle  raged  with  equal  valor  on  the  part  of  the  as- 
sailants and  the  defendants.  The  next  day  a  storm  arose, 
the  rain  felling  abundantly  and  freezing  as  it  touched  the 
ground.  The  encampment  was  flooded,  and  the  assailants, 
unable  to  make  any  progress,  were  again  compelled  to  beat 
a  retreat.  These  reverses  mortified  the  young  tzar,  though 
he  succeeded  in  efiecting  a  treaty  with  the  barbarians,  which 
in  some  degree  covered  his  disgrace. 

But  the  horde,  entirely  disorganized,  paid  no  regard  to 
treaties  and  continued  their  depredations.  Again,  in  the  year 
1552,  the  tzar  prepared  another  expedition  to  check  their 
ravages.  He  announced  to  the  council,  in  a  very  solemn  ses- 
sion, that  the  time  had  arrived  when  it  was  necessary,  at  all 
hazards,  to  check  the  pride  of  the  horde. 

"  God  is  my  witness,"  said  he,  "  that  I  do  not  seek  vain 
glory,  but  I  wish  to  secure  the  repose  of  my  people.  How 
shall  I  be  able  in  the  day  of  judgment  to  say  to  the  Most  High, 
'Behold  me  and  the  subjects  thou  bast  entrusted  to  my  care,' 
if  I  do  not  shelter  them  from  the  eternal  enemies  of  Russia, 
from  these  barbarians  from  whoni  one  can  have  neither  peace 
nor  truce  ?" 

The  lords  endeavored  to  persuade  the  emperor  to  remain 
at  Moscow,  and  to  entrust  the  expedition  to  his  experienced 


THE     REIGN      OF     IVAN      IV.  227 

generals,  but  he  declared  that  he  would  not  expose  his  army 
to  perils  and  fatigues  which  he  was  not  also  ready  and  willing 
to  share.  Though  many  were  in  favor  of  a  winter's  campaign, 
as  Kezan  was  surrounded  with  streams  and  lakes  which  the 
ice  would  then  bridge,  vet  Ivan  decided  upon  the  summer  as 
more  favorable  for  the  transportation  of  his  army  down  the 
rivers.  By  the  latter  part  of  May  the  waters  of  the  Volga 
and  the  Oka  were  covered  with  bateaux  laden  with  artillery 
and  with  military  stores,  and  the  banks  of  those  streams  were 
crowded  with  troops  upon  the  march.  Nigni  Novgorod, 
where  the  Oka  empties  into  the  Volga,  was  as  usual  the  ap- 
pointed place  of  rendezvous.  The  16th  of  June  Ivan  took 
leave  of  tlie  Empress  Anastasia.  Her  emotion  at  parting  was 
so  great  that  she  fell  fainting  into  the  arms  of  her  husband. 

From  his  palace  Ivan  proceeded  to  the  church  of  the 
Assumption,  where  the  blessing  of  Heaven  was  implored,  and 
then  issuing  orders  that  the  bishops,  all  over  the  empire, 
should  offer  prayers  daily  for  the  success  of  the  expedition, 
he  mounted  his  horse,  and  accompanied  by  the  cavalry  of  his 
guard,  took  the  route  to  Kolumna,  a  city  on  the  Oka,  about  a 
hundred  miles  south  of  Moscow. 

It  will  be  remembered  that  the  Tartar  horde  existed  in 
several  vast  encampments.  One  of  these  encampments  occu- 
pit;d  Tauride,  as  the  region  north  of  the  Crimea,  and  including 
that  peninsula,  was  then  called.  These  barbarians,  thinking 
that  the  Russian  army  was  now  five  hundred  miles  west  of 
Moscow  at  Kezan,  and  that  the  empire  was  thus  defenseless, 
with  a  vast  army  of  invasion  were  on  the  eager  march  foi* 
Moscow.  Ivan  at  Kolumna  heard  joyfully  of  their  approach, 
for  he  was  prepared  to  meet  them  and  to  chastise  them  with 
merited  severity.  On  the  22d  of  July,  the  horde,  unconscious 
of  their  danger,  surrounded  the  walls  of  Toola,  a  city  about  a 
hundred  miles  south  of  Kolunma.  Ivan  himself,  heading  a 
division  of  the  army,  fell  fiercely  upon  them,  and  the  Tartais 
were  totally  routed,  losing  artillery,  camels,  banneis  and  a 


228  THE      EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

large  number  of  prisoners.  They  were  pursued  a  long  dis- 
tance as  in  wild  rout  they  fled  back  to  their  own  country. 

This  brilliant  success  greatly  elated  the  anny.  Ivan  IV., 
sending  his  ti-ophies  to  Moscow,  as  an  encouragement  to  the 
capital,  again  put  his  army  in  motion  towards  Kezan.  The 
relation  which  existed  between  the  sovereign  and  his  pastor, 
the  faithful  metropolitan  bishop,  may  be  inferred  from  the 
following  communications  which  passed  between  them,  equally 
worthy  of  them  both. 

"  May  the  soul  of  your  mnjesty,"  wa-ote  the  metropolitan, 
"  ]-emain  pure  and  chaste.  Be  humble  in  prosperity  and  cour- 
ageous in  adversity.  The  piety  of  a  sovereign  saves  and 
blesses  his  empire,"     The  tzar  rcjslied, 

"  Worthy  pastor  of  the  church,  we  thank  you  for  your 
Christian  instructions.  We  will  engrave  them  on  our  heart. 
Continue  to  us  youi*  wise  counsels,  and  aid  us  also  with  your 
prayers.  We  advance  against  the  enemy.  May  the  Lord 
soon  enable  us  to  secure  j^eace  and  repose  to  the  Cliristians." 

On  the  13th  of  August,  with  his  assembled  army,  he 
reached  Yiask  on  the  Volga,  about  fifty  miles  above  Kezan. 
Here  he  encamped  to  concentrate  and  rest  his  troops  after  so 
long  a  march.  Barges  fieighted  with  provisions,  merchandise 
and  munitions  of  war,  were  incessantly  arriving  from  the  vast 
regions  watered  by  the  Volga  and  the  Oka.  As  by  magic  an 
immense  city  spread  out  over  the  green  plain.  Tents  glis- 
tened in  the  sun,  banners  waved,  and  horsemen  and  footmen, 
in  all  the  gorgeous  panoply  of  war,  extended  as  far  as  the  eye 
could  reach. 

While  resting  here,  Ivan  IV.  sent  an  embassy  to  Kezan, 
saying  that  the  tzar  sought  their  repentance  and  amendment, 
not  their  destruction  ;  that  if  they  would  deliver  up  to  pun- 
ishment the  authors  of  sedition,  and  would  give  satisfactory 
pledges  of  future  friendliness,  they  might  live  in  ])eace  under 
the  paternal  government  of  the  tzar.  To  this  message  a  con- 
temptuous and  deiiant  response  was  returned  by  the  Tartar 


THE     REIGX     OF     IVAN     IV.  229 

kliaii.  The  answer  was  closed  with  these  words:  "We  are 
anxiously  awaiting  your  arrival,  and  are  all  ready  to  com- 
mence our  festivities." 

That  very  day,  the  Russian  army,  amounting  to  one 
hundred  and  fifty  thousand  men,  arrived  within  sight  of 
Kezan.  A  prairie  four  miles  in  width,  carpeted  with  flowers, 
extended  from  the  Volga  to  the  range  of  mountains  at  the 
base  of  which  the  city  stood.  The  Tartars,  abounding  in 
wealth,  by  the  aid  of  engineers  and  architects  from  all  lands, 
had  surrounded  the  city  with  massive  walls  defended  with 
towers,  ramparts  and  bastions  in  the  most  formidable  strength 
of  military  art  as  then  known.  Within  the  walls  rose  the 
minarets  of  innumerable  mosques  and  the  turrets  of  palaces 
embellished  with  all  the  gorgeousness  of  oriental  wealth  and 
taste.  The  horde,  relying  upon  the  strength  of  their  fortifi- 
cation, remained  behind  their  walls,  where  they  prepared  for 
a  defense  which  they  doubted  not  would  be  successful.  Two 
days  were  employed  in  disembarking  the  artillery  and  the 
munitions  of  war. 

While  thus  engaged,  a  deserter  escaped  from  the  city  and 
announced  to  the  tzar  that  the  fortress  was  abundantly  sup- 
plied with  artillery,  provisions  and  all  means  of  defense ;  that 
the  garrison  consisted  of  thirty-two  thousand  seven  hundred 
veteran  soldiers  ;  that  a  numerous  corps  of  cavalry  had  been 
detached  to  scour  the  surrounding  country  and  raise  an  army 
of  cavalry  and  infantry  to  assail  the  besiegers  in  flank  and 
rear,  while  the  garrisons  should  be  prepared  to  sally  from 
their  entrenchments. 

On  the  23d  of  August,  at  the  dawn  of  day,  the  army, 
advancing  from  the  river,  approached  the  city.  The  moment 
the  sun  appeared  in  the  horizon,  at  the  sound  of  innumerable 
trumpets,  the  whole  army  arrested  their  steps  and  the  sacred 
standard  was  unfui-led,  presenting  the  effigy  of  Jesus  Christ, 
our  Saviour,  surmounted  by  a  golden  cross.  Ivan  IV.  and 
his  staff  alighted  from  their  horses,  and,  beneath  the  shadow 


230  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

of  the  banner,  with  prayers  and  otlier  exercises  of  devo- 
tion, received  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supper.  The 
monarch  then  rode  along  the  ranks,  and,  in  an  impassioned 
harangue,  roused  the  soldiers  to  the  noblest  enthusiasm. 
Exalting  the  glory  of  those  who  might  fall  in  the  defense 
of  religion,  he  assured  them  in  the  name  of  Russia  that  their 
wives  and  their  children  should  never  be  forgotten,  but  that 
they  should  be  the  objects  of  his  sj^ecial  care  and  should  ever 
enjoy  protection  and  abundance.  In  conclusion,  he  assured 
them  that  he  was  determined  to  sacrifice  his  own  life,  if  neces- 
sary, to  secure  the  triumph  of  the  cross.  These  words  were 
received  with  shouts  of  acclaim.  The  chaj^lain  of  Ivan,  ele- 
vated in  the  view  of  the  whole  army,  pronomiced  a  solemn 
benediction  upon  the  sovei'eign  and  upon  all  the  troops,  and 
then  bowing  to  the  sacred  standard,  exclaimed, 

"  O  Lord,  it  is  in  thy  name  we  now  march  against  the 
infidels." 

With  waving  banners  and  pealing  trumpets,  the  army  was 
now  conducted  before  the  walls  of  the  city.  Every  thing 
there  seemed  abandoned  and  in  profound  silence  and  solitude. 
Not  the  slightest  niovement  could  be  perceived.  Not  an 
individual  appeared  upon  the  walls.  Many  of  the  Russians 
began  to  rejoice,  imagining  that  the  tzar  of  Kezan,  struck 
with  terror,  had  fled  with  all  his  army  into  tlie  forest.  But 
the  generals,  more  experienced,  suspected  a  snare,  and  re- 
garded the  aspect  of  afiliirs  as  a  motive  for  redoubled  pru- 
dence. With  great  caution  they  made  their  dispositions  for 
commencing  the  siege.  As  a  division  of  seven  thousand 
troops  were  crossing  a  bridge  which  they  had  thrown  over  a 
ditch  near  the  walls,  suddenly  a  violent  uproar  succeeded  the 
profound  silence  which  had  reigned  in  the  city.  The  air  was 
filled  with  cries  of  rage.  The  massive  gates  rolled  open  upon 
their  hinges,  and  fifteen  thousand  mounted  Tartars,  armed  to 
the  teeth,  rushed  upon  the  little  band  with  a  shock  utterly 
resistless,  and,  in  a  few  moments,  the  Russians  were  cut  to 


THE     REIGN      OF      IVAN     IV.  231 

pieces  in  the  presence  of  the  whole  army.  The  victorious 
Tartars,  having  achieved  this  signal  exploit,  swept  back  again 
into  the  city  and  the  gates  were  closed.  This  event  taught 
the  Russians  prudence. 

Anticipating  a  long  siege,  a  city  of  tents  was  reared,  with 
its  streets  and  squares,  beyond  the  reach  of  the  guns  from 
the  walls.  Three  churches  of  canvas  were  constructed,  where 
worship  was  daily  held.  Day  after  day,  the  siege  was  con- 
ducted with  the  usual  events  witnessed  around  a  beleaguered 
fortress.  There  were  the  thunderings  of  artillery,  the  ex- 
plosion of  mines,  fierce  and  bloody  sorties,  the  shrieks  of  the 
combatants,  and  the  city  ever  burning  by  flames  enkindled 
by  red  hot  shot  thrown  over  the  walls.  The  Russian  bat- 
teries grew  every  day  more  and  more  foimitlable,  and  the 
ramparts  crumbled  beneath  their  blows.  The  Russian  army 
was  so  numerous  that  the  soldiers  relieved  tliemselves  at  the 
batteries,  and  the  bombardment  was  continued  day  and  night. 
At  length  a  Tartar  army  was  seen  descending  the  distant 
mountains  and  hastening  to  the  relief  of  the  garrison.  Ivan 
dispatched  one  half  his  army  to  meet  them.  The  Tartars, 
after  a  sanguinary  conflict,  were  cut  to  pieces.  As  the  divis- 
ion returned  covered  with  dust  and  blood,  and  exulting  in 
their  great  achievement,  Ivan  displayed  the  prisoners,  the 
banners,  and  the  spoil  he  had  taken,  before  the  walls  of  the 
city.  A  herald  was  then  sent,  to  address  these  words  to  the 
besieged  : 

"  Ivan  promises  you  life,  liberty  and  pardon  for  the  past, 
if  you  will  submit  yourselves  to  him." 

The  response  returned  was, 

"  We  had  rather  die  by  our  own  pure  hands,  than  perish 
by  those  of  miserable  Christians." 

This  answer  was  followed  by  a  storm  of  all  the  missiles  of 
war. 

The  monarch,  wishing  as  far  as  possible  to  save  the  city 
from  destruction,  and  to  avoid  the  effusion  of  blood,  directed 


232  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

a  German  engineer  to  sink  a  mine  under  an  important  poi'- 
tion  of  the  walls.  The  miners  proceeded  until  they  could 
hear  the  footsteps  of  the  Kezanians  over  their  heads.  Eleven 
tons  of  powder  were  placed  in  the  vault.  On  the  5th  of  Sep- 
tember, the  match  was  applied.  The  explosion  was  awful. 
Large  portions  of  the  wall,  towers,  buildings,  rocks,  the  mu- 
tilated bodies  of  men,  were  thrown  hundreds  of  feet  into  the 
air  and  fell  upon  the  city,  crushing  the  dwellings  and  the  in- 
habitants. The  besieged  were  seized  with  mortal  terror,  not 
knowing  to  what  to  attribute  so  dire  a  calamity.  The  Rus- 
sians, who  were  prej^ared  for  the  explosion,  waving  their 
swords,  with  loud  outcries  rushed  in  at  the  breach.  But  the 
Kezanians,  soon  recovering  from  their  consternation,  with 
their  breasts  and  their  artillery  presented  a  new  rampart,  and 
beat  back  the  foe.  Thus,  day  after  day,  the  lioi-rible  carnage 
continued.  Within  the  city  and  without  the  city,  death  held 
high  carnival.  Tliere  were  fimine  and  pestilence  and  misery 
in  all  imaginable  forms  within  the  walls.  In  the  camp  of  the 
besiegers,  there  were  mutilation,  and  death's  agonies  and  de- 
spair. Ai'my  after  army  of  Tartars  came  to  the  help  of  the 
besieged,  but  they  were  mown  down  mercilessly  by  Russian 
sabers,  and  trampled  beneath  Russian  hoofs. 

Ivan,  morning  and  evening,  with  his  generals,  entered  the 
church  to  implore  the  blessing  of  God  upon  his  enterprise. 
In  no  other  way  could  he  rescue  Russia  from  the  invasion  of 
these  barbarians,  than  by  thus  appealing  to  the  energies  of 
the  sword.  In  the  contemplation  of  such  a  tragedy,  the 
mind  struggles  in  bewilderment,  and  can  only  say,  "  Be  still, 
and  know  that  I  am  God." 


CHAPTER    XIV. 

THE    REIGN    OF    IVAN    I V.— G  0  NT  INUE  D. 
Froii  1552  TO  1557. 

Siege  or  Kezan. — Artifices  of  Wak.— The  Explosion-  of  Mines. — The  Finai,  As- 
SATLT. — Complete  Subjugation  ok  Kezan. — Geatitude  and  Libeiialitt  of  the 
Tzar. — Return  to  Moscow.^Joy  of  the  Inhabitants. — Birth  of  an  Heir  to  the 
Crown. — Insurrection  in  Kezan.— The  Insurrection  Quelleb. — Conquest  op 
Astruchan. — The  Enclish  Expedition  in  Search  of  a  Jioiith-East  Passage  to 
India. — The  Establishment  at  Archangel. — Commercial  Relations  Between 
France  and  Russia. — Russian  E.mbassy  to  England. — Extension  of  Commerce. 

rpiIE  Russians  Imd  now  been  a  month  before  the  walls  of 
J-  Kezan.  Ten  thousand  of  the  defenders  had  already 
been  slain.  The  autumnal  sun  was  rapidly  declining,  and  the 
storms  of  winter  were  approaching.  Secretly  they  now  con- 
structed, a  mile  and  a  half  fi'om  the  camp,  an  immense  tower 
upon  wheels,  and  rising  higher  than  the  walls  of  the  city. 
Upon  the  platform  of  this  tower  they  placed  sixteen  cannon, 
of  the  largest  caliber,  which  were  worked  by  the  most  skillful 
gunners.  In  the  night  this  terrible  machine  was  rolled  up  to 
the  walls,  and  with  the  first  dawn  of  the  morning  opened  its 
fire  upon  the  dwellings  and  the  streets.  The  carnage  was  at 
first  liorrible,  but  the  besieged  at  length  took  refuge  in  sub- 
terranean walks  and  covered  ways,  where  they  indomitably 
continued  the  conflict.  The  artillery,  placed  upon  the  walls 
of  Kezan,  were  speedily  dismounted  by  the  batteries  on  the 
tower. 

A  new  series  of  mines  beneath  the  walls  were  now  con- 
structed by  the  Russian  engineers,  which  were  to  operate  with 
destructive  power,  hitherto  unrccoi'ded  in  the  annals  of  war. 
On  the  1st  of  October  the  tzar  announced  to  the  army  that 


234  THE     EMPIRE     OF     RUSSIA. 

the  mines  were  ready  to  be  fired,  and  wished  them  to  pre- 
pare for  the  general  assault.  While  one  half  of  the  troops 
continued  the  incessant  bombardment,  the  other  half  wei'e 
assembled  in  the  churches  to  purify  themselves  for  the  conflict 
by  confession,  penitence,  prayer  and  the  partaking  of  the  sa- 
crament of  the  Lord's  Su2:)per.  The  divisions  then  exchanged 
that  the  whole  army  might  prostrate  itself  before  God.  Ivan 
IV.  himself  retired  with  his  confessor  and  passed  several  hours 
in  earnest  devotion.  The  night  preceding  the  assault  there  was 
no  repose  in  either  camp.  The  Kezanians,  who  were  anxiously 
awaiting  events,  had  perceived  an  extraordinary  movement 
among  the  Russians,  as  each  battalion  was  guided  to  the  spot 
whence  it  was  to  rush  over  the  ruins  immediately  after  the 
explosion.  Forty-eight  tons  [towieca(x)  of  j^owder  had  been 
placed  in  the  mines. 

The  morning  of  the  2d  of  October  dawned  serene  and 
cloudless.  The  earliest  Hght  revealed  the  Russians  and  the 
Kezanians  each  at  their  posts.  The  moment  the  sun  appeared 
above  the  horizon  the  explosion  took  place.  First  the  earth 
trembled  and  rose  and  fell  for  many  miles  as  if  shaken  by  an 
earthquake.  A  smothered  roar,  swelling  into  j^ealing  thunJer 
ensued,  which  appalled  every  mind.  Immense  volumes  of 
smoke,  thick  and  suffocating,  instantaneously  rolled  over  tlie 
city  and  the  beleagueing  camp,  converting  day  into  night.  A 
horrible  melange  of  timbers,  rocks,  guns  and  mutilated  bodies 
of  men,  women  and  children  were  hurled  into  the  air  through 
this  storm  cloud  of  war,  and  fell  in  hideous  ruin  alike  upon 
the  besiegers  and  the  besieged.  At  the  moment  when  the 
explosion  took  place,  one  of  the  bishops  in  the  church  was 
reading  the  words  of  our  Saviour  foretelling  the  peaceful 
reign  of  fraternity  and  of  heavenly  love,  "  Henceforth  there 
shall  be  but  one  flock  and  one  sheijherd."  Strange  contrast 
;.etween  the  spirit  of  heaven  and  the  woes  of  a  fallen  world ! 

For  a  moment  even  the  Russians,  though  all  prepared  for 
the  explosion,  were  paralyzed  by  its  direful  eflects.     But  in- 


THE     REIGN      OF     IVAN     IV.  235 

stantly  recovering,  they  raised  the  siinultaneons  shout,  "  God 
is  witli  us,"  and  rushing  over  the  debris  of  ruin  and  Llood, 
])enetrated  the  city.  The  Tartars  met  them  M'ith  the  fury  of 
despair,  appealhig,  in  their  turn,  to  Allah  and  Mohammed,  Soon 
the  Russian  banner  floated  over  tottering  towers  and  blackened 
walls,  though  for  many  hours  the  battle  raged  with  fierceness, 
which  human  energies  can  not  exceed. 

Prince  Vorotinsky,  early  in  the  afternoon,  soiled  with 
blood  and  blackened  with  smoke,  rode  from  the  ruins  of  the 
city  into  the  presence  of  Ivan,  and  bowing,  said, 

"  Sire,  rejoice  ;  your  bravery  and  your  good  fortune  have 
secured  the  victory,  Kezan  is  ours.  The  khan  is  in  your 
power,  the  people  are  slain  or  taken  captive.  Unspeakable 
riches  have  fallen  into  our  hands," 

"  Let  God  be  glorified,"  cried  Ivan,  raising  his  eyes  and 
liis  hands  to  heaven.  Then  taking  the  sacred  standard  in  his 
own  hands,  he  entered  the  city,  planted  the  banner  in  one  of 
the  principal  squares,  ordered  a  Te  JDenyn  there  to  be  chanted, 
and  then  directed  that  upon  that  spot  the  foundation  should 
be  laid  of  the  first  Christian  temple.  All  the  booty  Ivan  sur- 
rendered to  the  army,  saying, 

"  The  only  riches  I  desire,  are  the  repose  and  the  honor  of 
Russia," 

Then  assembling  his  troops  around  him,  he  thus  addressed 
them : 

"  Valiant  lords,  generals,  officers,  all  of  you  who  in  this 
solemn  day  have  suffered  for  the  glory  of  God,  for  religion, 
your  country  and  your  emperor,  you  have  acquired  immortal 
glory,  Never  before  did  a  people  develop  such  bravery  ; 
never  before  was  so  signal  a  victory  gained.  How  can  I 
suitably  reward  your  glorious  actions  ? 

"And  you  who  repose  on  tlu;  field  of  honor,  noble  chil- 
dren of  Russia,  you  are  already  in  the  celestial  realms,  in  the 
midst  of  Christian  martyrs  and  all  resplendent  with  glory. 
This  is  the  recompense  with  which  God  has  i-ewarded  you. 


236  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

But  as  for  us,  it  is  our  duty  to  transmit  your  names  to  future 
ages,  and  the  sacred  list  in  which  they  shall  be  enrolled  shall 
be  placed  in  the  temple  of  the  Lord,  that  they  may  ever  live 
in  the  memory  of  men, 

"  You,  who  bathed  in  your  blood,  still  live  to  experience 
the  eifects  of  my  love  and  my  gratitude ;  all  of  you  brave 
warriors  now  before  me,  listen  attentively  to  my  words,  and 
repose  perfect  confidence  in  the  promises  I  make  to  you  this 
day,  that  I  will  cherish  you  and  j^rotect  you  to  the  end  of  my 
life." 

These  were  not  idle  words.  Ivan  personally  visited  the 
wounded,  cheered  them  with  his  sympathy,  and  ever  after 
watched  over  them  with  parental  care.  His  brother-in-law, 
Daniel,  was  immediately  sent  an  envoy  to  the  empress  and  to 
the  metropolitan  bishop,  to  inform  them  of  the  victory.  The 
day  was  closed  by  a  festival,  in  a  gorgeous  tent,  where  all  the 
principal  officers  and  lords  were  invited  to  dine  with  the  tzar. 
A  proclamation  was  addressed  to  all  the  tribes  and  nations  of 
the  conquered  region. 

"  Come,"  said  the  Russian  tzar,  "  without  fear  to  me. 
The  past  is  forgotten  ;  for  pertidy  has  received  its  reward.  I 
shall  require  of  you  only  the  tribute  which  you  have  hereto- 
fore paid  to  the  tzars  of  Kezau." 

On  the  3d  of  October  the  dead  were  buried  and  the 
whole  city  was  cleansed.  The  next  day,  Ivan,  accompanied 
by  his  clergy,  his  council  and  the  chiefs  of  his  army,  made  his 
triumphal  entrance,  and  laid,  on  the  designated  spot,  the 
corner-stone  of  the  cathedral  church  of  the  Visitation,  He 
also  made  the  tour  of  the  city,  bearing  the  sacred  banner,  and 
consecrating  Kezan  to  the  true  God.  The  clergy  sprinkled 
holy  water  upon  the  streets  and  upon  the  walls  of  the  houses, 
imploring  the  benediction  of  Heaven  upon  this  new  rampart 
of  Christianity.  They  prayed  that  the  inhabitants  might  be 
preserved  from  all  maladies,  that  they  might  be  strengthened 
lo  repel  every  enemy,  and  that  the  city  might  for  ever  remain 


THE     KEIGN     OF     IVAN     IV.  '23V 

the  glorious  lieiitage  of  Russia,  Having  traversed  the  whole 
city  and  designated  the  places  for  the  erection  of  churches, 
the  tzar  gave  orders  for  the  immediate  rebuilding  of  the  for- 
tifications, and  then,  accompanied  by  his  court,  he  took  pos- 
session of  the  palace  of  the  khan,  over  which  now  floated  the 
banners  of  the  cross. 

It  was  thus  that  one  of  the  most  considerable  principali- 
ties of  the  descendants  of  Ghengis  Khan  fell  uito  the  hands  of 
Russia.  Kezan  was  founded  upon  the  ruins  of  ancient  Bul- 
garia, and,  situated  upon  the  frontiers  of  Russia,  had  long- 
filled  the  empire  with  terror.  Ivan  immediately  established  a 
new  government  for  the  city  and  the  surrounding  region, 
■which  was  occupied  by  five  difterunt  nations,  powerful  in  num- 
bers and  i-edoubtable  in  war.  An  army  of  about  ten  thousand 
men  was  left  to  garrison  the  fortresses  of  the  city.  On  the 
11th  of  October  the  emperor  prepared  to  return  to  Moscow. 
Many  of  the  lords  counseled  that  he  should  remain  at  Kezan 
until  spring,  that  the  more  distant  regions  might  be  overawed 
by  the  presence  of  the  army.  But  the  monarch,  impatient  to 
see  his  spouse  and  to  present  himself  in  Moscow  fresh  from 
these  fields  of  glory,  rejected  these  sage  counsels  and  adopted 
the  advice  of  those  who  also  wished  to  repose  beneath  the 
laurels  they  had  already  acquired.  Passing  the  night  of  the 
11th  of  October  on  the  baidvs  of  the  Volga,  he  embarked  on 
the  morning  of  the  12lh  in  a  barge  to  ascend  the  stream,  while 
the  cavalry  followed  along  upon  the  banks.  The  emperor 
passed  one  day  at  Sviazk  and  then  proceeded  to  Nigni  Nov- 
gorod. The  whole  city,  men,  women  and  children,  flocked  to 
meet  him.  They  could  not  find  words  strong  enough  to 
express  their  gratitude  for  their  deliverance  from  the  terrible 
incursions  of  the  horde.  They  fell  at  their  monarch's  feet, 
bathed  his  hands  with  their  tears  and  im])lored  Heaven's 
blessing  upon  him. 

From  Nigni  Novgorod  the  em])eror  took  the  land  route 
through  Balakna  and  Vladimir  to  Moscow.     On  the  way  he 


238  THE     EMPIRE     OF     RUSSIA, 

met  a,  courier  from  the  Empress  Anastasia,  announcing  to  him 
that  she  had  given  birth  to  a  son  wliom  she  named  Dmitri. 
The  tzar,  in  the  tumult  of  his  joy,  leaped  from  liis  horse,  pas- 
sionately embraced  Trakhaniot,  the  lierald,  and  then  falling 
upon  his  knees  with  tears  trickling  down  his  cheeks,  rendered 
thanks  to  God  for  the  gift.  Not  knowing  how  upon  the  spot 
to  recompense  the  herald  for  the  blissful  tidings,  he  took  the 
royal  cloak  from  his  own  shoulders  and  spread  it  over  Trak- 
haniot, and  passed  into  his  hands  the  magnificent  charger 
from  which  the  monarch  had  just  alighted.  He  spent  the 
night  of  the  28th  of  October  in  a  small  village  but  a  few  miles 
from  Moscow,  all  things  being  prepared'  for  his  triumphant 
entrance  into  the  capital  the  next  day.  With  the  earliest 
light  of  the  morning  he  advanced  toward  the  city.  The 
crowd,  even  at  that  early  houi-,  was  so  gi-eat  that,  for  a  dis- 
tance of  four  miles,  there  was  but  a  narrow  passage  left 
through  the  dense  ranks  of  the  people  for  the  tzar  and  his 
guard.  The  emperor  advanced  slowly,  greeted  by  the  acclaim 
of  more  than  a  million  of  his  peoj^le.  With  uncovered  head  he 
bowed  to  the  right  and  to  the  left,  while  the  multitude  inces- 
santly ci-ied,  "  May  Heaven  grant  long  life  to  our  pious  tzar, 
conqueror  of  barbarians  and  saviour  of  Christians." 

At  the  gate  he  was  met  by  the  metropolitan,  the  bishops, 
the  lords  and  the  princes  ranged  in  order  of  procession  under 
the  sacred  banner.  Ivan  IV.  dismounted  and  addressed  them 
in  touching  words  of  congratulation.  The  response  of  the 
metropolitan  was  soulfull,  flooding  the  eyes  of  the  monarch 
and  exciting  all  who  heard  it  to  the  highest  enthusiasm. 

"As  for  us,  O  tzar,"  he  said,  in  conclusion,  "in  testimony 
of  our  gratitude  for  your  toils  and  your  glorious  exploits,  we 
prostrate  ourselves  before  you." 

At  these  words  the  metropolitan,  the  cU;rgy,  the  dignita- 
ries and  the  people  fell  upon  their  knees  before  their  sover- 
eign, bowing  their  faces  to  the  ground.  There  were  sobbings 
and  shoutmgs,  cries  of  benedictions  and   transports  of  joy. 


THE      EEIGN      OF      IVAN      IV.  239 

The  monarch  was  now  conducted  to  the  Kremlin,  which  liad 
been  rebuilt,  and  attended  mass  in  tlie  church  of  the  Assump- 
tion. He  then  hastened  to  the  pahice  to  greet  his  spouse. 
The  happy  mother  was  in  the  chamber  of  convalescence  with 
her  beautiful  boy  at  her  side.  For  onc^,  at  least,  there  was 
joy  in  a  palace. 

The  enthusiasm  which  reigned  in  the  capital  and  through- 
out all  Russia  was  such  as  has  never  been  surpassed.  The 
people,  trained  to  faith  and  devotion,  crowded  the  churches, 
which  were  constantly  open,  addressing  incessant  thanksgiv- 
ings to  Heaven.  The  preachers  exhausted  the  powers  of 
eloquence  in  describing  the  grandeur  of  the  actions  of  their 
prince — his  exertions,  fatigues,  bravery,  the  stratagems  of  war 
during  the  siege,  the  despairing  ferocit}'  of  the  Kezanians  and 
the  final  and  glorious  result. 

After  several  days  passed  in  the  bosom  of  his  family,  Ivan 
gave  a  grand  festival  in  his  palace,  on  the  8th  of  November. 
The  metropolitan,  the  bishops,  the  abbes,  the  pi-iiices,  and  all 
the  lords  and  warriors  who  had  distinguished  themselves  dur- 
ing the  siege  of  Kezan,  were  invited.  "  Never,"  say  the 
annalists,  "  had  there  before  been  seen  at  Moscow  a  fete  so 
sumptuous,  joy  so  intense,  or  liberality  so  princely."  The 
ffete  continued  for  three  days,  during  which  the  emi)eror  did 
not  cease  to  distribute,  with  a  liberal  hand,  proofs  of  his  mu- 
nificence. His  bounty  was  extended  from  the  metropolitan 
bishop  down  to  the  humblest  soldier  distinguished  for  his 
bravery  or  his  wounds.  The  monarch,  thus  surrounded  with 
glory,  beloved  by  his  people,  the  conqueror  of  a  foreign  em- 
])ire  and  the  pacificator  of  his  own,  distinguished  for  the  noble- 
ness of  his  jieisonal  character  and  tlie  graiuieur  of  his  exploits, 
alike  wise  as  a  legislator  and  humane  as  a  n»an,  was  still  but 
twenty-two  years  of  age.  His  career  thus  far  presents  a  phe- 
nomenon quite  unparalleled  in  history. 

As  soon  as  Anastasia  was  able  to  leave  her  (;ouch  she  ac- 
companied the  tzar  to  the  monastery  of  Yroitzky,  where  his 


240  THE     EMPIKE      OF     RUSSIA. 

infant  son  Dmitri  received  tlie  ordinance  of  baptism.  It  seems 
to  be  the  doom  of  life  that  every  cahu  should  be  succeeded  by 
a  storm ;  that  days  of  sunshine  should  be  followed  by  darkness 
and  tempests.  Early  in  the  year  1553  tidings  reached  Mos- 
cow that  the  barbarians  at  Kezan  were  in  bloody  insurrection. 
The  Russian  troops  had  been  worsted  in  many  conflicts ;  very 
many  of  them  were  slain.  The  danger  was  imminent  that  the 
insurrection  would  prove  successful,  and  that  the  Russians 
would  be  entirely  exterminated  from  Kezan.  The  imprudence 
of  the  emperor,  in  withdrawing  before  the  conquest  was  con- 
solidated, was  now  apparent  to  all.  To  add  to  the  consterna- 
tion the  monarch  himself  was  suddenly  seized  with  an  inflam- 
matory fever ;  the  progress  of  the  malady  was  so  rapid  that 
almost  immediately  his  life  was  despaiied  of.  The  mind  of 
the  tzar  was  unclouded,  and  being  informed  of  his  danger, 
without  any  apparent  agitation  he  called  for  his  secretary  to 
draw  up  his  last  will  and  testament.  The  monarch  nominated 
for  his  successor  his  infant  son,  Dmitri.  To  render  the  act 
more  imposing,  he  requested  the  lords,  who  were  assembled 
in  an  adjoining  saloon,  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  his 
son.  Immediately  the  spirit  of  revolt  was  manifested.  Many 
of  the  lords  dreaded  the  long -minority  of  the  infant  prince, 
and  the  government  of  the  regency  which  would  probably 
ensue.  The  contest,  loud  and  angry,  reached  the  ears  of  the 
king,  and  he  sent  for  the  refractory  lords  to  approach  his  bed- 
side. Ivan,  burning  with  fever,  with  hardly  strength  to  speak, 
and  expecting  every  hour  to  die,  turned  his  eyes  to  them  le- 
proachfully  and  said, 

"  Who  then  do  you  wish  to  choose  for  your  tzar  ?  I  am 
too  feeble  to  speak  long.  Dmitri,  though  in  his  cradle,  is 
none  the  less  your  legitimate  sovereign.  If  you  are  deaf  to 
the  voice  of  conscience  you  must  answer  for  it  before  God." 

One  of  the  nobles  frankly  responded, 

"  Sire,  we  are  all  devoted  to  you  and  to  your  son.  But 
we  fear  the  regency  of  Yourief,  who  will  undoubtedly  govern 


THE     EEIGN     or     IVAN     IV.  241 

Russia  in  the  name  of  an  infant  who  has  not  yet  attained  his 
intellectual  faculties.  This  is  the  true  cause  of  our  solicitude. 
To  how  many  calamities  were  we  not  exposed  during  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  lords,  before  your  majesty  had  attained  the 
age  of  reason.  It  is  necessary  to  avoid  the  recurrence  of  such 
woes." 

The  monarch  was  now  too  feeble  to  speak,  and  the  nobles 
withdrew  from  his  chamber.  Some  took  the  oath  to  obey  the 
will  of  the  sovereign,  others  refused,  and  the  bitter  strife  ex- 
tended through  the  city  and  the  kingdom.  The  dissentients 
rallied  round  prince  Vladimir,  and  the  nation  was  threatened 
with  civil  war.  The  next  day  the  tzar  had  revived  a  little, 
and  again  assembled  the  lords  in  his  chamber  and  entreated 
them  to  take  the  oath  of  submission  to  his  son  and  to  Anas- 
tasia,  the  guardian  of  the  infant  prince.  Overcome  by  the 
exertion  the  monarch  sank  into  a  state  of  lethargy,  and  to  all 
seemed  to  be  dying.  But  being  young,  temperate  and  vigor- 
ous, it  proved  but  the  crisis  of  the  disease.  He  awoke  from 
his  sleep  calm  and  decidedly  convalescent.  Deeply  wounded 
by  the  unexpected  opposition  which  he  had  encountered,  he 
yet  manifested  no  spirit  of  revenge,  though  Anastasia,  with 
woman's  more  sensitive  nature,  could  never  forget  the  opposi- 
tion which  had  been  manifested  towards  herself  and  her  child. 

Ivan  during  his  sickness  had  made  a  vow  that,  in  case  of 
recovery,  he  would  visit,  in  homage,  the  monastery  of  St. 
Cyi-ille,  some  thousand  miles  distant  beyond  the  waves  of  the 
Volga.  It  is  pleasant  to  record  the  remonstiance  which  Max- 
ime,  one  of  the  clergy,  made  against  the  fulfillment  of  his 
wislies. 

"You  are  about,"  said  he,  "to  undertake  a  dangerous 
journey  with  your  spouse  and  your  infant  child.  Can  the 
fulfillment  of  a  vow  which  reason  disapproves,  be  agreeable  to 
God  ?  It  is  useless  to  seek  in  deserts  that  heavenly  Father 
who  fills  the  universe  with  his  presence.  If  you  desire  to 
testify  to  Heaven  tlie  gratitude  you  feel,  do  good   upon   the 


242  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

throne.  The  conquest  of  Kezan,  an  event  so  propitious  for 
Russia,  has  nevertheless  caused  the  death  of  many  Christians. 
The  widows,  the  motliers,  the  orphans  of  warriors  wlio  fell 
upon  the  field  of  honor,  are  overwhelmed  with  affliction. 
Endeavor  to  comfort  them  and  to  dry  their  tears  by  your 
beneficence.  These  are  the  deeds  pleasing  to  God  and  wor- 
thy of  a  tzar." 

Nevertheless  the  monarch  persisted  in  his  plan,  and  en- 
tered upon  the  long- journey.  He  buried  his  child  by  the  way, 
and  returned  overwhelmed  with  grief.  But  he  encountered 
a  greater  calamity  than  the  death  of  the  young  prince,  in 
bad  advice  which  he  received  from  Vassian,  the  aged  and 
venerable  prince  of  Kolumna. 

"  Sii-e,"  said  this  unwise  ecclesiastic,  "  if  yoii  wish  to  be- 
come a  monarch  truly  absolute,  ask  advice  of  no  one,  and 
deem  no  one  wiser  than  yourself.  Establish  it  as  an  irrevoca- 
ble principle  never  to  receive  the  counsels  of  others,  but,  on  the 
contrary,  give  counsel  to  them.  Command,  but  never  obey. 
Then  you  will  be  a  true  sovereign,  terrible  to  the  lords.  Re- 
member that  the  counselors  of  the  wisest  princes  always  in 
the  end  dominate  over  them." 

The  subtle  poison  which  this  discourse  distilled,  penetrated 
the  soul  of  Ivan.  He  seized  the  hand  of  Vassian,  pressed  it 
to  liis  lips,  and  said, 

"  My  father  himself  could  not  have  given  me  advice  more 
salutary." 

])itl<;rly  was  the  prince  deceived.  Experience  has  })roved 
that,  in  the  counsel  of  the  wise  and  virtuous,  there  is  safety. 
Tliere  was  no  sudden  change  in  the  character  of  Ivan.  He 
still  continued  for  some  years  to  manifest  the  most  sincei'e 
esteem  for  the  opinions  of  Sylvestre  and  Adaehef.  But  the 
poison  of  bad  principles  was  gradually  diffusing  itself  through 
his  heart.  A  year  had  not  passed  away,  ere  Ivan  was  con- 
soled by  the  birth  of  another  son.  In  the  meantime  he  de- 
voted himself  with  ardor  to  measures  for  the  restoration  of 


THE     REIGN     OF     IVAN     IV.  243 

tranquillity  in  Kezau.  A  numerous  army  was  assembled  at 
Nigni  Novgorod,  with  orders  to  commence  the  campaign  for 
the  reconquest  of  the  country  as  soon  as  the  cold  of  winter 
should  bridge  the  lakes  and  streams.  The  Tartars  had  made 
very  vigorous  efforts  to  repel  their  foes,  by  summoning  every 
fighting  man  to  the  field,  and  by  the  construction  of  fortresses 
and  throwing  up  of  redoubts. 

In  Xovember  of  1553,  the  storm  of  battle  was  recom- 
menced on  fields  of  ice,  and  amidst  smothering  tempests  of 
snow.  For  more  than  a  month  there  was  not  a  day  without 
a  conflict.  In  these  incessant  engagements  the  Tartars  lost 
ten  thousand  men  slain  and  six  thousand  prisoners.  One 
thousand  six  hundred  of  the  most  distinguished  of  these  pris- 
oners, princes,  nobles  and  chieftains,  who  had  been  the  most 
conspicuous  in  the  rebellion,  were  put  to  death.  Neverthe- 
less these  severities  did  not  stifle  the  insurrection  ;  the  Tar- 
tars, in  banditti  bands,  even  crossing  the  Volga,  pillaging, 
massacring  and  burning  with  savage  cruelty.  For  five  years 
the  war  raged  in  Kezan,  with  eveiy  accompaniment  of  ferocity 
and  misery.  The  country  was  devastated  and  almost  depopu- 
lated. Hardly  a  chief  of  note  was  left  alive.  The  horrors 
of  war  then  ceased.  The  Russians  took  possession  of  the 
country,  filled  it  with  their  own  emigrants,  reared  churclies, 
established  Christianity,  and  spread  over  the  community  the 
protection  of  Russian  laiv.  Most  of  the  Kezanians  who  re- 
mained embraced  Christianity,  and  from  that  time  Kezan,  the 
ancient  Bulgaria,  has  remained  an  integral  portion  of  the 
Russian  empire. 

Soon  allei',  a  new  conquest,  more  easy,  but  not  less  gloi'i- 
ouH,  was  added  to  that  of  Kezan,  The  city  and  province  of 
Astrachan,  situated  at  the  mouth  of  the  Volga  as  it  enters 
the  Caspian,  had  existed  from  the  remotest  antiquity,  enjoying 
wealth  and  renown,  even  before  the  foundation  of  the  Russian 
empire.  In  the  third  century  of  the  Christian  era,  it  was 
celebrated  for  its  commerce,  and  it  became  one  of  the  favorite 


244  THE     EMPIRE     OF     RUSSIA. 

capitals  of  the  all-conquering  Tartars.  Russia,  being  now  in 
possession  of  all  the  upper  waters  of  the  Volga,  decided  to 
extend  their  dominions  down  the  liver  to  the  Caspian.  It 
was  not  difficult  to  find  ample  causes  of  complaint  against 
pagan  and  barbaric  hordes,  whose  only  profession  \\as  robbery 
and  war. 

Early  in  the  spring  of  1554  a  numerous  and  choice  army 
descended  the  Volga  in  bateaux  to  the  delta  on  which  Astra- 
chan  is  built.  The  low  lands,  intersected  by  the  branching 
stream,  is  composed  of  innumerable  islands.  The  inhabitants 
of  the  city,  abandoning  the  capital  entirely,  took  refuge 
among  these  islands,  where  they  enjoyed  great  advantages 
in  repelling  assailants.  The  Russians  took  possession  of  the 
city,  prosecuted  the  war  vigorously  thi-ough  the  summer,  and 
the  tzar,  on  the  20th  of  October,  which  was  his  birthday, 
received  the  gratifying  intelligence  that  every  foe  was  quelled, 
and  that  the  Russian  government  was  firmly  established  on 
the  shores  of  the  Caspian.  Well  might  Russia  now  be  proud 
of  its  territorial  greatness.  The  opening  of  these  new  realms 
encouraged  commerce,  promoted  wealth,  and  developed  to  an 
extraordinary  degree  the  resources  of  the  empire. 

England  was,  at  that  time,  far  beyond  the  bounds  of  the 
political  horizon  of  Russia.  In  fact,  the  Russians  hardly  knew 
that  there  was  such  a  nation.  Great  Britain  was  not,  at  that 
time,  a  maritime  power  of  the  first  order.  Spain,  Portugal, 
Venice  and  Genoa  were  then  the  great  monarchs  of  the  ocean. 
England  was  just  beginning  to  become  the  dangerous  rival  of 
those  States  whom  she  has  already  so  infinitely  surpassed  in 
maritime  greatness.  She  had  then  formed  the  project  of  open- 
ing a  shorter  route  to  the  Indies  through  the  North  Sea,  and, 
in  1553,  during  the  reign  of  Edward  VI,,  had  dispatched  an 
expedition  of  three  vessels,  under  Hugh  Willoughby,  in  search 
of  a  north-east  passage.  These  vessels,  separated  by  a  tem- 
pest, were  unable  to  reunite,  and  two  of  them  were  wrecked 
upon  the  icy  coast  of  Russian  Lapland  in  the  extreme  latitude 


THE     REIGN      OF     IVAN     IV.  245 

of  eighty  degrees  north.  WDlongliby  and  liis  companions  per- 
ished. Some  Lapland  iisliermen  found  their  remains  in  the 
M'inter  of  tlie  year  1554.  Wlllougliby  was  seated  in  a  cabin 
constructed  upon  tlie  sliore  with  his  journal  before  liim,  with 
wliich  he  appeared  to  have  been  occupied  until  tlie  moment  of 
his  death.  The  other  ship,  commanded  by  Captain  Chanceller, 
was  more  fortunate.  He  penetrated  the  White  Sea,  and,  on 
the  24th  of  August,  landed  in  the  Bay  of  Dwina  at  the  Rus- 
sian monastery  of  St.  Nicholas,  where  now  stands  the  city  of 
Archangel.  The  English  informed  the  inhabitants,  who  were 
astonished  at  the  apparition  of  such  a  ship  in  their  waters, 
that  they  were  bearers  of  a  letter  to  the  tzar  from  the  King 
of  England,  who  desired  to  establish  commercial  relations  with 
the  great  and  hitherto  almost  unknown  northern  empire. 
The  commandant  of  the  country  furnished  the  mariners  with 
])rovisions,  and  immediately  dispatched  a  courier  to  Ivan  at 
Moscow,  which  was  some  six  hundred  miles  south  of  the  Bay 
of  Dwina. 

Ivan  IV.  wisely  judged  that  this  circumstance  might  prove 
favorable  to  Russian  commerce,  and  immediately  sent  a  cou- 
rier to  invite  Chanceller  to  come  to  Moscow,  at  the  same 
time  making  arrangements  for  him  to  accomplish  the  journey 
with  speed  and  comfort.  Chanceller,  with  some  of  his  officers, 
accepted  the  invitation.  Arriving  at  Moscow,  the  English 
were  struck  with  astonishment  in  view  of  the  magnificence  of 
the  court,  the  polished  address  and  the  dignified  mnnners  of 
the  nobles,  the  rich  costume  of  the  courtiers,  and,  particularly, 
with  the  jeweled  and  golden  brilliance  of  the  throne,  upon 
which  was  seated  a  young  monarch  decorated  in  the  most 
dazzling  style  of  regal  splendor,  and  in  whose  presence  all 
observed  the  most  respectfid  silence.  Chanceller  presented 
to  Ivan  IV.  the  letter  of  p]d\vard  VI.  It  was  a  noble  letter, 
worthy  of  England's  monarch,  and,  being  translated  into  many 
languages,  was  addressed  generally  to  all  the  sovereigns  of 
the  East  and  the  North.     The  letter  was  dated,  "  London,  in 


246  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

the  year  55]  7  of  the  creation,  and  of  our  reign  the  17."  The 
EngUsh  were  honorably  received,  and  were  invited  to  dine 
with  the  tzar  in  the  royal  palace,  which  furnished  them  with  a 
new  occasion  of  astonishment  from  the  sumptuousness  which 
surrounded  the  sovereign.  The  guests,  more  than  a  hundred 
in  number,  were  served  on  plates  of  gold.  The  goblets  were 
of  the  same  metal.  The  servants,  one  hundred  and  fifty  in 
number,  were  also  in  livery  richly  decorated  with  gold  lace. 

The  tzar  wrote  to  Edward  that  he  desired  to  form  with 
him  an  alliance  of  friendship  conformable  to  the  precepts  of 
the  Christian  religion  and  of  every  wise  government ;  that 
he  was  anxious  to  do  any  thing  in  his  power  which  should  be 
agreeable  to  the  King  of  England,  and  that  the  English  em- 
bassadors and  merchants  who  might  come  to  Russia  should 
be  protected,  treated  us  friends  and  should  enjoy  perfect 
security. 

When  Chanceller  returned  to  England,  Edward  VI.  was 
already  in  the  tomb,  and  Mary,  Bloody  3Iari/,  the  child  of 
brutal  Henry  VIII.,  was  on  the  throne.  The  letter  of  Ivan 
IV.  caused  intense  excitement  throughout  England.  Every 
one  spoke  of  Russia  as  of  a  country  newly  discovered,  and  all 
were  eager  to  obtain  information  respecting  its  history  and  its 
geography.  An  association  of  merchants  Avas  immediately 
formed  to  open  avenues  of  commerce  with  this  new  world. 
Anotlier  expedition  of  two  ships  was  fitted  out,  commanded 
by  Chanceller,  to  conclude  a  treaty  of  commerce  with  the 
tzar.  Mary,  and  her  husband,  Philip  of  Spain,  who  was  son 
of  the  Emperor  Charles  V,,  wrote  a  letter  to  the  Russian 
monarch  full  of  the  most  gracious  expressions. 

Chanceller  and  iiis  ct)mpanions  were  received  with  the  same 
cordial  hospitality  as  before.  Ivan  gave  them  a  seat  at  his  own 
table,  loaded  thorn  with  favors  and  gave  to  the  Queen  of  En- 
gland tiie  title  of  "  my  de;ii-ly  beloved  sister."  A  commission 
of  Russian  merchants  was  a])j)pointed  to  confer  with  the  En- 
glish to  form  a  commercial  treaty.     It  was  decided  that  the 


THE     REIGX      OF      IVAN     IV.  24V 

principal  place  tor  the  exchange  of  merchandise  should  l»e  at 
Kohuogar,  on  the  Bay  of  Dwina,  nearly  opposite  the  convent 
of  St.  Nicholas;  that  each  party  should  be  free  to  name  its 
own  prices,  but  that  every  kind  of  fraud  should  be  judged 
after  the  criminal  code  of  Russia.  Ivan  then  delivered  to  the 
English  a  diploma,  granting  them  permission  to  tratfic  freely  in 
all  the  cities  of  Russia  without  molestation  and  without  pay- 
ing any  tribute  or  tax.  They  were  free  to  establish  themselves 
wherever  they  jjleased,  to  purchase  houses  and  shops,  and  to 
engage  servants  and  mechanics  in  their  employ,  and  to  exact 
from  them  oaths  of  fidelity.  It  was  also  agreed  that  a  man 
should  be  responsible  for  his  own  conduct  only,  and  not  for 
that  of  his  agents,  and  that  though  the  sovereign  might  pun- 
ish tlie  criminal  with  the  loss  of  liberty  and  even  of  life,  yet, 
under  no  circumstances,  should  he  touch  his  property ;  that 
should  always  pass  to  his  natural  heirs. 

The  port  of  St.  Nicholas,  which,  for  ages,  had  been  silent 
and  solitary  in  these  northern  waters  where  the  English  had 
found  but  a  poor  and  gloomy  monastery,  the  tomb,  as  it  were, 
of  hooded  monks,  soon  became  a  busy  place  of  traflic.  The 
English  constructed  there  a  large  and  beautiful  m.insion  for 
the  accommodation  of  their  merchants,  and  streets  were 
formed,  lined  witli  spacious  storehouses.  The  principal  mer- 
chandise which,  the  English  then  imported  into  Russia  con- 
sisted of  cloths  and  sugar.  The  merchants  oiiered  twelve 
guineas  for  what  was  then  called  a  half  piece  of  cloth,  and 
four  shillings  a  pound  for  sugar. 

In  1550,  Chanceller  embarked  ibr  England  with  four  ships 
richly  laden  with  the  gold  and  the  produce  of  Russia,  accom- 
])anied  by  Joseph  Nepeia,  an  embassador  to  the  Queen  of 
England.  Fortune,  which,  until  then,  had  smiled  upon  this 
hardy  mariner,  now  turned  advei'se.  T('mj)ests  dispersed  his 
ships,  and  (me  only  reached  London.  Chanceller  himself 
])erishe(l  in  the  waves  upon  the  coast  of  Scotland.  The  ships 
dashed  upon  the  rocks,  and  the  Russian  embassador,  Nepeia, 


248  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

barely  escaped  with  liis  life.  Arriving  at  London,  he  was 
overwhelmed  with  caresses  and  presents.  The  most  distin- 
o-iiished  dignitaries  of  the  State  and  one  hundred  and  forty 
merchants,  accompanied  by  a  great  number  of  attendants,  all 
richly  clad  and  mounted  upon  superb  horses,  rode  out  to  meet 
him.  They  presented  to  him  a  horse  magnificently  capar- 
isoned, and  thus  escorted,  the  first  Russian  embassador  made 
his  entrance  into  the  capital  of  Great  Britain.  The  inhabit- 
ants of  London  crowded  the  streets  to  catch  a  sight  of  the 
illustrious  Russian,  and  thousands  of  voices  greeted  him  with 
the  heartiest  acclaim.  A  magnificent  mansion  was  assigned 
for  his  residence,  which  was  furnislied  in  the  highest  style  of 
splendor.  He  was  invited  to  innumerable  festivals,  and  the' 
court  were  eager  to  exhibit  to  him  every  thing  worthy  of 
notice  in  the  city  of  London.  He  was  conducted  to  the 
cathedral  of  St.  Paul,  to  Westminster  Abbey,  to  the  Tower 
and  to  all  the  parks  and  ])a]aces.  The  queen  received  Nepeia 
with  the  most  marked  consideration.  At  one  of  the  most 
gorgeous  festivals  he  was  seated  by  her  side,  the  observed  of 
all  observers. 

The  embassador  couKl  only  regret  that  tlie  rich  presents 
of  fui's  and  Russian  fabrics  which  the  tzar  had  sent  by  his  hand 
to  Mary,  wei-e  all  engulfed  upon  the  coast  of  Scotland.  The 
queen  sent  to  the  tzar  the  most  beautiful  fabrics  of  the  En- 
glish looms,  the  most  exquisitely  constructed  weapons  of  war, 
such  as  sabers,  guns  and  pistols,  and  a  living  lion  and  lioness, 
ajiimals  which  never  before  liad  been  seen  within  the  bounds 
of  the  Russian  empire.  In  September,  1557,  Nepeia  embarked 
for  Russia,  taking  with  him  several  English  artisans,  miners 
and  physicians.  Ivan  was  anxious  to  lose  no  opportunity  to 
gain  Ij-om  foreign  lands  every  thing  which  could  contribute 
to  Russian  civilization.  The  letter  which  Mary  and  Philip 
returned  to  ^Moscow  was  flatteringly  addressed  to  the  august 
emperor,  Ivan  IV.  When  the  tzar  learned  all  the  honors 
and  the  testimonials  of  aftection  with  which  his  embassador 


THE      REIGN      OF      IVAN     IV.  249 

bad  been  greeted  in  London,  lie  considered  the  Englisb  as  the 
most  precious  of  all  the  friends  of  Russia.  He  ordered  man- 
sions to  be  prepared  for  the  accouunodation  of  their  merchants 
in  all  the  commercial  cities  of  the  empire,  and  he  treated  them 
in  other  respects  with  such  marked  tokens  of  regard,  that  all 
the  letters  which  they  wrote  to  London  were  filled  with  ex- 
pressions of  gratitude  towards  the  Russian  sovereign. 

In  the  year  1557  an  English  commercial  fleet  entered  the 
Baltic  Sea  and  proceeded  to  the  mouth  of  the  Dwina  to  estab- 
lish there  an  entrepot  of  English  merchandise.  The  com- 
mander-in-chief of  the  squadron  visited  Moscow,  where  he  was 
received  with  the  greatest  cordiality,  and  thence  passed  down 
the  Volga  to  Astrachan,  that  ho  might  there  establish  com- 
mercial relations  with  Pei'sia.  The  tzar,  reposing  entire  con- 
fidence in  the  London  merchants,  entered  into  their  views  and 
promised  to  grant  them  every  facility  for  the  transportation 
of  English  merchandise,  even  to  the  remotest  sections  of  the 
empire.  This  commercial  alliance  with  Great  Britain,  founded 
upon  reciprocal  advantages,  without  any  commingling  of  po- 
litical jealousies,  was  impressed  with  a  certain  character  of 
magnanimity  and  fraternity  which  greatly  augmented  the 
renown  of  the  reign  of  Ivan  IV.,  and  which  was  a  signal 
proof  of  the  sagacity  of  liis  administration.  How  beautiful  are 
the  records  of  peace  when  contrasted  with  the  hideous  annals 
of  war ! 

The  merchants  of  the  other  nations  of  southern  and  west- 
ern Europe  were  not  slow  to  proHt  by  the  discovery  that  the 
English  had  made.  Shij^s  from  Holland,  freighted  with  the 
goods  of  that  ingenious  and  industrious  people,  were  soon 
coasting  along  the  bays  of  the  great  empire,  and  penetrating 
her  rivers,  engaged  in  traffic  which  neither  Russia  or  England 
seemed  disposed  to  disturb.  While  the  tzar  was  engaged  in 
those  objects  which  we  have  thus  rapidly  traced,  other  ques- 
tions of  immense  magnitude  engrossed  his  mind.  Tlie  Tartar 
liorde  in  Tauride  terrilied  by  the  destruction  of  the  horde  in 


250  THE      EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

Kezan,  SN^ere  ravaging  southern  Russia  with  continual  inva- 
sions which  the  tzar  found  it  difficult  to  repress.  Poland  was 
also  hostile,  ever  watching  for  an  opportunity  to  strike  a 
deadly  blow,  and  Sweden,  under  Gustavus  Vasa,  was  in  open 
war  with  the  empire. 


CHAPTER     XV. 

THE    ABDICATION    OF    IVAN    IV. 
From  1557  to  1582. 

Teerok  op  the  Horde  in  Tauride. — War  with   Gitstavus  Vasa  op  Sweden. — Po- 
litical Punctilios. — The  Kingdom  op  Livonia  Annexed  to  Sweden. — Death 

of  AnASTASIA. — CdNSPIRACV    AGAINST    IVAN. — Hl8  ABDICATION. — HiS  KeSUMPTION 

ok  the  Crown. — Invasion  op  Eussia  bv  the  Tartars  and  Turks. — Heroism  of 
Zebrinow. — Utter  Discomfiture  op  the  Tartars. — Relations  Bktwekn  Queen 
Elizabeth  of  England,  and  Eussia. — Intrepid  E.mbassage. — New  War  with 
Poland. — Disasters  of  Eussia. — The  E.vperok  Kills  His  Own  Son. — Anguish  op 
Ivan  IV. 

^PHE  entire  subjugation  of  the  Tartars  in  Kezan  terrified 
J-  the  horde  in  Tauride,  lest  their  turn  to  be  overwhehned 
should  next  come.  Devlet  Ghirei,  the  khan  of  this  horde, 
was  a  man  of  great  ability  and  ferocity.  Ivan  IV.  was  urged 
by  his  counselors  immediately  to  advance  to  the  conquest 
of  the  Crimea.  The  achievement  could  then  doubtless 
have  been  easily  accomplished.  But  it  was  a  journey  ol 
nearly  a  thousand  miles  from  Moscow  to  Tauride.  The  route 
was  very  imperfectly  known  ;  much  of  the  intervening  region 
was  an  inhospitable  wilderness.  The  Sultan  of  Turkey  was 
the  sovereign  master  of  the  horde,  and  Ivan  feared  that  all 
the  terrible  energies  of  Turkey  would  be  roused  against  him. 
There  was,  moreover,  another  enemy  nearer  at  home 
whom  Ivan  had  greater  cause  to  fear.  Gustavus  Vasa,  the 
King  of  Sweden,  had,  for  some  time,  contemplated  with 
alarm  the  rapidly  increasing  power  of  Russia.  He  according- 
ly formed  a  coalition  with  the  Kings  of  Poland  and  Livonia, 
and  with  the  powerful  Dukes  of  Prussia  and  of  Denmark,  for 
those  two  States  were  then  but  dukedoms,  to  oppose  the  am- 


252  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

bition  of  tlie  tzar.  An  occasion  for  hostilities  was  found  in  a 
dispute,  respecting  the  boundaries  between  Russia  and  Sweden. 
The  terrible  tragedy  of  war  was  inducted  by  a  prologue  of 
burning  villages,  trampled  harvests  and  massacred  peasants, 
upon  the  frontiers.  Sieges,  bombardments  and  tierce  battles  en- 
sued, with  the  alternations  of  success.  From  one  triumphal 
march  of  invasion  into  Sweden,  the  Russians  returned  so 
laden  with  prisoners,  that,  as  their  annalists  record,  a  man 
was  sold  for  one  dollar,  and  a  girl  for  five  shihings. 

At  length,  as  usual,  both  parties  became  weary  of  toil  and 
blood,  and  were  anxious  for  a  respite.  Gustavus  proposed 
terms  of  reconciliation.  Ivan  lY.  accepted  the  overtures, 
though  he  returned  a  reproachful  and  indignant  answer. 

"  Your  people,"  he  wrote,  "  have  exhausted  their  ferocity 
upon  our  territories.  Not  only  have  they  burned  our  cities 
and  massacred  our  subjects,  but  they  have  even  profaned  our 
churches,  purloined  our  images  and  destroyed  our  bells.  The 
inhabitants  of  Novgorod  implored  the  aid  of  our  grand  army. 
My  soldiers  burned  with  impatience  to  carry  the  war  to 
Stockholm,  but  I  restrained  them  ;  so  anxious  was  I  to  avoid 
the  eftusion  of  human  blood.  All  the  misery  resulting  from 
this  war,  is  to  be  attributed  to  your  pride.  Admitting  that 
you  were  ignorant  of  the  grandeur  of  Novgorod,  you  might 
have  learned  the  facts  from  your  own  merchants.  They  could 
have  told  you,  that  even  the  suburbs  of  Novgorod  are  superior 
to  the  whole  of  your  capital  of  Stockholm.  Lay  aside  this 
pride,  and  give  up  your  quarrelsome  dis^^osition.  We  are  wil- 
ling to  live  in  peace  with  you." 

Sweden  was  not  in  a  condition  to  resent  this  rebuke.  In 
February,  1557,  the  embassadors  of  Gustavus,  consisting  of 
four  of  the  most  illustrious  men  in  the  empire,  clergy  and 
nobles,  accompanied  by  a  brilliant  suite,  arrived  in  Moscow. 
They  were  not  received  as  friends,  but  as  distinguished  pris- 
oners, who  were  to  be  treated  with  consideration,  and  whose 
wants  wei'c  to  be  abundantly  supplied.     The  tzar  refused  to 


THE     ABDICATION     OF     IT  AX     IV.  253 

have  any  direct  intercourse  with  them,  and  would  only  treat 
through  the  dignitaries  of  his  court.  A  truce  was  concluded 
for  forty  years.  The  tzar,  to  impress  the  embassadors  with 
his  wealth  and  grandeur,  entertained  them  sumptuously,  and 
they  were  served  from  vessels  of  gold. 

Though  peace  was  thus  made  with  Sweden,  a  foolish  quar- 
rel, for  some  time,  prevented  the  conclusion  of  a  treaty  with 
Poland.  Ivan  IV.  demanded,  that  Augustus,  King  of  Poland, 
should  recognize  him  as  Emperor  of  Russia.  Augustus  le- 
plied,  that  there  were  but  two  emperors  in  the  world,  the 
Emperor  of  Germany  and  the  Sultan  of  Turkey.  Ivan  sent, 
through  his  embassadors,  to  Augustus  ;  the  letters  of  Pope 
Clement,  of  the  Emperor  Maximilian,  of  the  Sultan,  of  the 
Kings  of  Spain,  Sweden  and  Denmark,  and  the  recent  dis- 
patch of  the  King  of  England,  all  of  whom  recognized  his 
title  of  tzar,  or  emperor.  Still,  the  Polish  king  would  not 
allow  Ivan  a  title,  which  seemed  to  place  the  Russian  throne 
on  an  eminence  above  that  of  Poland.  Unfriendly  relations 
consequently  continued,  with  jealousies  and  border  strifes, 
thouerh  there  was  no  vigorous  outbreak  of  war. 

Ivan  IV.  now  succeeded  in  attaching  Livonia  to  the  great 
and  growing  empire.  It  came  in  first  as  tributary,  purchasing, 
by  an  annual  contribution,  ])eace  with  Russia  and  protection. 
Though  there  were  many  subsequent  conflicts  with  Livonia, 
the  territory  subsequently  became  an  integral  portion  of  the 
empire.  Russia  had  now  become  so  great,  that  her  growth 
was  yearly  manifest  as  surrounding  regions  were  absoi'bed  by 
her  superior  civilization  and  her  armies.  The  unenlightened 
States  which  surrounded  her,  were  ever  provoking  hostilities, 
invasion,  and  becoming  absorbed.  In  the  year  1558,  the  Tar- 
tars of  Tauride,  having  assembled  an  army  of  one  hundred 
thousand  horsemen,  a  combination  of  Tartars  and  Turks, 
Burldenly  entered  Russia,  and  sweeping  rcsistlessly  on,  a  war 
tempest  of  utter  desolation,  reached  within  two  hundred  miles 
of  Moscow.     There  they  learned   that   Ivan  himself,  with    an 


254  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

army  more  numerous  tlian  their  own,  was  on  the  march  to 
meet  them.  Turning,  they  retreated  more  rapidly  than  they 
advanced.  Notwithstanding  their  retreat,  Ivan  resolved  to 
pursue  them  to  their  own  haunts.  A  large  number  of  bateaux 
Avas  constructed  and  launched  upon  the  Don  and  also  upon 
the  Dnieper.  The  army,  in  these  two  divisions,  descended 
these  streams,  one  to  the  Sea  of  Azof,  the  other  to  the  mouth 
of  the  Dnieper.  Thence  invading  Tauride,  both  by  the  east 
and  the  west,  they  drove  the  terrified  inhabitants,  taken  en- 
tirely by  surprise,  like  sheep  before  them.  The  tents  of  these 
nomads  they  committed  to  the  flames.  Their  flocks  and 
herds  were  seized,  with  a  great  amount  of  booty,  and  many 
Russian  captives  were  liberated.  The  Tartars  fled  to  fast- 
nesses whence  they  could  not  be  pursued.  Some  Turks 
being  taken  with  the  horde,  Ivan  sent  them  with  lich  pres- 
ents to  the  sultan,  stating  that  he  did  not  make  war  against 
Turkey,  only  against  the  robbers  of  Tauride.  The  Russian 
troops  returned  from  this  triumphant  expedition,  by  ascend- 
ing the  waters  of  the  Dnieper.  All  Russia  was  filled  with 
rejoicing,  while  the  churches  resounded  with  "  Te  Deums." 

And  now  domestic  griefs  came  to  darken  the  palace  of 
Ivan.  For  thirteen  years  he  had  enjoyed  all  the  happiness 
which  conjugal  love  can  confer.  Anastasia  was  still  in  the 
brilliance  of  youth  and  beauty,  when  she  was  attacked  by 
dangerous  sickness.  As  she  was  lying  upon  her  couch,  help- 
less and  burning  with  fever,  the  cry  of  fire  was  heard.  The 
day  was  excessively  hot ;  the  windows  of  the  palace  all  open, 
and  a  drouth  of  several  weeks  made  every  thing  dry  as  tinder. 
The  conflagration  commenced  in  an  adjoining  street,  and,  in  a 
moment,  volumes  of  flame  and  smoke  were  swept  by  the  wind, 
enveloping  the  Kremlin,  and  showering  upon  it  and  into  it, 
innumerable  flakes  of  fire.  The  queen  was  thrown  into  a 
paroxysm  of  terror  ;  the  attendants  hastily  placed  her  upon  a 
litter  and  bore  her,  almost  suffocated,  through  the  blazing 
streets  out  of  the  city,  to  the  village  of  Kolomensk.     The 


THE     ABDICATION      OF      IVAN      IV.  255 

emperor  tlieii  returned  to  assist  in  arresting  the  conflagration. 
He  exposed  himself  hke  a  common  laborer,  inspiring  others 
with  intrepidity  by  mounting  ladders,  carrying  water  and 
opposing  the  flames  in  the  most  dangerous  positions.  The 
conflagration  proved  awful  in  its  ravages,  many  of  the  inhab- 
itants perishing  in  the  flames. 

This  calamitous  event  was  more  than  the  feeble  frame  of 
Anastasia  could  endure.  She  rapidly  failed,  and  on  the  lih 
of  August,  1560,  she  expired.  The  grief  of  Ivan  was  heart- 
rending, and  never  was  national  affliction  manifested  in  a 
more  sincere  and  touching  manner.  Not  only  the  whole 
court,  but  almost  the  entire  city  of  Moscow,  followed  the  re- 
mains of  Anastasia  to  their  interment.  Many,  in  the  bitter- 
ness of  their  grief,  sobbed  aloud.  The  most  inconsolable 
were  the  j^oor  and  friendless,  calling  Anastasia  by  the  name 
of  mother.  The  anguish  of  Ivan  for  a  time  quite  unmanned 
him,  and  he  wept  like  a  child.  The  loss  of  Anastasia  did 
indeed  prove  to  Ivan  the  greatest  of  earthly  calamities. 
She  had  been  his  guardian  angel,  his  guide  to  virtue.  Having 
lost  his  guide,  he  fell  into  many  errors  from  which  Anastasia 
would  have  preserved  him. 

In  the  course  of  a  few  months,  either  the  tears  of  Ivan  were 
dried  up,  or  political  considerations  seemed  to  render  it  neces- 
sary for  him  to  seek  another  wife.  Notwithstanding  the  long 
liereditary  hostility  whicli  had  existed  between  Russia  and 
Poland,  perhaps  in  consequence  of  it,  Ivan  made  proposals  for 
a  Polish  princess,  Catharine,  sister  of  Sigismond  Augustus,  the 
king.  The  Poles  demanded,  as  an  essential  item  in  the  mar- 
riage contract,  that  the  children  of  Catharine  should  take  the 
precedence  of  those  of  Anastasia  as  heirs  to  the  throne.  This 
iniquitous  demand  the  tzar  rejected  with  tiie  scorn  it  merited. 
Tlie  ix'venge  in  whicli  the  Poles  indulged  was  charactei-istic 
of  the  rudeness  of  the  times.  The  court  of  Augustus  sent  a 
white  mare,  beautifully  caparisoned,  to  Ivan,  with  the  message, 
that  such  a  wife  he  would  find  to  be  in  accordance  with  his 


256  THE     EMTIKE      OF     RUSSIA. 

charactei'  and  wants.  The  outrageous  insult  incensed  Ivan  to 
the  highest  degree,  and  he  vowed  that  the  Poles  should  feel 
the  weight  of  his  displeasure.  Catharine,  in  the  meantime,  was 
mariied  to  the  Duke  of  Finland,  who  was  brother  to  the  King 
of  Sweden,  and  whose  sister  was  married  to  the  King  of  Den- 
mark. Thus  the  three  kingdoms  of  Poland,  Sweden  and 
Denmark,  and  the  Duchy  of  Finland  were  strongly  allied  by 
matrimonial  ties,  and  were  ready  to  combine  against  the  Rus- 
sian emperor. 

Ivan  IV.  nursed  his  vengeance,  waiting  for  an  opportunity 
to  strike  a  blow  which  should  be  felt.  Elizabeth  was  now 
Queen  of  England,  and  her  embassador  at  the  court  of  Russia 
was  in  high  favor  with  the  emperor.  Probably  through  his 
influence  Ivan  showed  great  favor  to  the  Lutheran  clergy, 
Avho  were  gradually  gaining  followers  in  the  empire.  He  fre- 
quently admitted  them  to  court,  and  even  listened  to  their 
arguments  in  favor  of  the  reformed  religion.  The  higher 
clergy  and  the  lords  were  much  incensed  by  this  liberality, 
which,  in  their  view,  eiidangei'ed  the  ancient  usages,  both 
civil  and  religious,  of  the  realm,  and  a  veiy  formidable  con- 
spiracy was  organized  against  the  tzar. 

Ivan  IV.  was  apprised  of  the  conspiracy,  and,  with  singular 
boldness  and  magnanimity,  immediately  assembled  his  leading 
nobles  and  higher  clergy  in  the  great  audience-chambei*  of  the 
Kremlin.  He  presented  himself  before  them  in  the  glittering 
robes  and  with  all  the  insignia  of  royalty.  Divesting  himself 
of  them  all,  he  said  to  his  astonished  auditors, 

"  You  have  deemed  me  unworthy  any  longer  to  occupy 
the  throne.  I  here  and  now  give  in  my  abdication,  and  re- 
quest you  to  nominate  some  person  whom  you  may  consider 
worthy  to  be  your  sovereign," 

Without  permitting  any  reply  he  dismissed  them,  and  the 
next  day  convened  all  the  clergy  of  Moscow  in  the  church  of 
St.  Mary.  A  high  mass  was  celebrated  by  the  metropolitan, 
in  which  the  monarch  assisted,  and  he  then  took  an  affecting 


THE     ABDICATION     OF      IVAN     IV,  2?Y 

leave  of  them  all,  in  a  solemn  renunciation  of  all  claims  to  the 
crown.  Accompanied  by  his  two  sons,  he  retired  to  the  strong 
yet  secluded  castle  of  Caloujiutz,  situated  about  live  miles 
from  Moscow.  Here  he  remained  several  days,  waitin^^,  it  is 
generally  supposed,  for  a  delegation  to  call,  imploring  him 
again  to  resume  the  crown.  In  this  expectation  he  was  not 
disap})()inttHl.  The  lords  were  unprepared  for  such  decisive 
action.  In  their  councils  there  was  nothing  but  confusion. 
Anarchy  was  rapidly  commencing  its  reign,  which  would  be 
followed  inevitably  by  civil  war.  The  partisans  of  the  etn- 
peror  in  the  provinces  were  very  numerous,  and  could  be 
rallied  by  a  word  from  him;  and  no  one  imagined  that  the 
emperor  had  any  idea  of  retiring  so  peacefully.  It  was  not 
doubted  tliat  he  would  soon  appear  at  the  head  of  an  army, 
and  punish  relentlessly  the  disattected,  who  would  all  then  be 
revealed.  The  citizens,  the  nobles  and  the  clergy  met  to- 
gether and  appointed  a  numerous  deputation  to  call  upon  the 
emperor  and  implore  him  again  to  resume  the  reins  of  jiower. 

"  Your  faithful  subjects,  sire,"  exclaimed  the  petitioners, 
"are  deeply  afflicted.  The  State  is  exposed  to  feai-ful  peril 
from  dissension  within  and  enemies  without.  We  do  there- 
fore most  earnestly  entreat  your  majesty,  as  a  faithful  shep- 
herd, still  to  watch  over  his  flock  ;  Ave  do  entreat  you  to 
return  to  your  throne,  to  continue  your  favor  to  the  deserving, 
and  not  to  forsake  your  faithful  subjects  in  consequence  of  the 
errors  of  a  few," 

Ivan  listened  with  much  apjiarent  indifference  to  this 
pathetic  address,  and  eithei-  really  felt,  or  affected,  great 
reluctance  again  to  resume  the  cares  of  royalty.  He  re- 
quested a  day's  time  to  consider  their  proposal.  The  next 
morning  the  nobles  were  again  convened,  and  Ivan  ac(iuaint- 
ed  them  with  his  decision.  Rebuking  tliem  with  severity  for 
their  ingratitude,  reproaching  them  with  the  danger  to  which 
his  life  had  been  ex[)osed  through  their  conspiracy,  he  de- 
clared that   he   could   not   attain   assume  the  cares  and   the 


258  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

perils  of  the  crown.  Still  his  refusal  was  not  so  decisive  as 
to  exclude  all  room  for  further  entreaties.  They  renewed 
their  supplications  with  tears,  for  Russia  was,  indeed,  exposed 
to  all  the  horrors  of  civil  war,  should  Ivan  persist  in  his  re- 
solve, and  it  was  certain  that  the  empire,  thus  distracted, 
would  at  once  be  invaded  by  both  Poles  and  Turks. 

Thus  importuned,  Ivan  at  last  consented  to  retnin  to  the 
Kremlin.  He  resolved,  however,  to  make  an  example  of 
those  who  had  conspired  against  him,  which  should  warn 
loudly  against  the  renewal  of  similar  attempts.  The  princi])al 
movers  in  the  plot  were  executed,  Ivan  then  surrounded 
himself  with  a  body  guard  of  two  hundred  men  carefully 
selected  from  the  distant  provinces,  and  who  were  in  no  way 
under  the  influence  of  any  of  the  lords.  This  body  guard, 
composed  of  low-born,  uneducated  men,  incapable  of  being 
roused  to  any  high  enthusiasm,  subsequently  proved  quite  a 
nuisance. 

Ivan  IV.  had  but  just  resumed  his  seat  upon  the  throne 
when  couriers  from  the  southern  provinces  brought  the  alarm- 
ing intelligence  that  an  immense  army  of  combined  Tartars 
and  Turks  had  invaded  the  empire  and  were  on  the  rapid 
march,  burning  and  destroying  all  before  them.  Selim,  the 
son  and  successor  of  Solyman  the  Magnificent,  entered  into 
an  alliance  with  several  oriental  princes,  who  were  to  send 
liim  succors  by  the  way  of  the  Caspian  Sea,  and  raised  an 
army  of  three  hundred  thousand  men.  These  troops  were 
embarked  at  Constantinople,  and,  crossing  the  Black  Sea  and 
the  Sea  of  Azof,  entered  Tauride,  Here  they  were  joined  by 
a  ix'inforcement  of  Crimean  Tartars,  consisting  of  forty  thou- 
snnd  well  armed  and  veteran  fighters.  With  this  force  the 
sultan  marched  directly  across  the  country  to  the  Russian 
city  and  province  of  Astrachaii,  at  the  mouth  of  the  Volga. 

]jut  a  heroic  man,  Zerebrinow,  was  in  command  of  tlie 
fortresses  in  this  remote  province  of  the  Russian  empire.  He 
immediately  assembled  all  his  available  troops,  and,  advancing 


THE      ABDICATION      OF      IVAN     IV.  259 

to  meet  tlie  foe,  selected  his  own  ground  for  the  battle  in  a 
narrow  defile  where  the  vast  masses  of  the  enemy  would  only 
encumber  each  other.  Falling  upon  the  invaders  unexpectedly 
from  ambuscades,  he  routed  the  Turks  with  great  carnage. 
They  were  compelled  to  retreat,  having  lost  nearly  all  their 
baggage  and  heavy  artillery.  The  triumphant  Russians  pur- 
sued them  all  the  way  back  to  the  city  of  Azof,  cannonading 
them  with  the  artillery  and  the  ammunition  they  had  wrested 
from  their  foes.  Here  the  Turks  attempted  to  make  a  final 
stand,  but  a  chance  shot  from  one  of  the  guns  penetrated  the 
immense  powder  magazine,  and  an  explosion  so  terrific  en- 
sued that  two  thirds  of  the  city  were  entirely  demolished. 

The  Tu)-ks,  in  consternation,  now  made  a  rush  for  their 
ships.  But  Zerebrinow,  with  coolness  and  sagacity  which  no 
horrors  could  disturb,  had  already  planted  his  batteries  to 
sweep  them  with  a  storm  of  bullets  and  balls.  The  cannonade 
was  instantly  commenced.  The  missiles  of  death  fell  like  hail 
stones  into  the  crowded  boats  and  upon  the  crowded  decks. 
Many  of  the  ships  were  sunk,  others  disabled,  and  but  a  few, 
torn  and  riddled,  succeeded  in  escaping  to  sea,  where  the  most 
of  them  also  perished  beneath  the  waves  of  the  stormy  Eux- 
ine.  Such  was  the  utter  desolation  of  this  one  brief  war  tem- 
pest whit;h  lasted  but  a  few  weeks. 

Queen  Elizabeth,  anxious  to  maintain  friendly  relations 
with  an  empire  so  vast,  and  opening  before  her  subjects  such 
a  field  of  pi-ofitable  commerce,  having  been  informed  of  the 
conspiracy  against  Ivan  IV.,  of  his  abdication,  and  of  his  re- 
sum))tion  of  tlie  crown,  sent  to  liim  an  embassador  with  ex- 
pressions of  her  kindest  wishes,  and  assured  him  that  should 
he  ever  be  reduced  to  tlie  disagreeable  necessity  of  leaving 
his  empire,  lie  would  find  a  safe  retreat  in  England,  where  he 
would  be  received  and  i)rovided  for  in  a  manner  suitable  to 
his  dignity,  where  he  could  enjoy  the  free  exercise  of  Ijis  vo- 
ligion  and  be  permitted  to  depart  whenever  he  should  wish. 

TIk!  tolerant  si)irit   manifested   by  Ivan  IV".  towards  the 


260  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

Lutherans,  continued  to  disturb  the  ecclesiastics;  and  the 
cleroy  and  nobles  of  tlie  province  of  Novgorod,  headed  by 
the  archbishop,  formed  a  plot  of  dissevering  Novgorod  from 
the  empire,  and  attaching  it  to  the  kingdom  of  Poland.  This 
conspiracy  assumed  a  very  formidable  attitude,  and  one  of  the 
brothers  of  the  tzar  was  involved  in  it.  Ivan  immediately 
sent  an  army  of  fifteen  tliousand  men  to  quell  the  revolt. 
We  have  no  account  of  this  transaction  but  from  the  pens  of 
those  who  were  envenomed  by  their  animosity  to  the  religions 
toleration  of  Ivan,  We  must  consequently  receive  their  nar- 
ratives Avith  some  allowance. 

The  army,  according  to  their  account,  ravaged  tlie  whole 
province  ;  took  the  city  by  storm  ;  and  cut  down  in  indiscrimi- 
nate slaughtei-  twenty-Hve  thousand  men,  women  and  children. 
The  brother  of  Ivan  IV.  was  seized  and  thrown  into  prison, 
Avhei-e  he  miserably  perished.  The  archbishop  was  strij)ped 
of  his  canonical  lobes,  clad  in  the  dress  of  a  harlequin,  pa- 
raded through  the  streets  on  a  gray  mare,  an  object  of  derision 
to  the  people,  and  then  was  imprisoned  for  life.  Such  cruelty 
does  not  seem  at  all  in  accordance  with  the  character  of  Ivan, 
while  the  grossest  exaggeration  is  in  accordance  with  the  char- 
acter of  all  civil  and  religious  partisans. 

War  with  Poland  seems  to  have  been  the  chronic  state  of 
Russia.  Whenever  either  party  could  get  a  chance  to  strike 
tlie  other  a  blow,  the  blow  was  sure  to  be  given  ;  and  they 
Avere  alike  unscrupulous  whether  it  were  a  saber  blow  in  the 
face  or  a  dagger  thrust  in  the  back.  In  the  year  1571,  a  Rus- 
sian army  pursued  a  discomfited  band  of  Livonian  insurgents 
across  the  frontier  into  Poland,  The  Poles  eagerly  joined  the 
insurgents,  and  sent  envoys  to  invite  the  Crimean  Tartars  to 
invade  Russia  from  Tauride,  while  Poland  and  Livonia  should 
assail  the  empire  from  the  west.  The  Tartars  were  always  ready 
for  war  at  a  moment's  notice.  Seventy  thousand  men  were 
imme<liMt('ly  on  the  march.  They  rapidly  traversed  the  south- 
ern provinces,  trampling  down  all  opposition  until  they  reached 


THE     ABDICATION      OF     IVAN     IV.  261 

the  Oka.  Heie  they  encountered  a  few  Russian  troops  mIio 
attenipteJ  to  dispute  the  passage  of  the  stream.  They  were, 
however,  speedily  overpowered  by  the  Tartars  and  were  com- 
jjelled  to  retreat.  Pressing  on,  they  arrived  within  sixty  miles 
of  the  city,  when  they  found  the  Russians  again  concentered, 
but  now  in  large  numbers,  to  oppose  their  pi'ogress.  A  tierce 
battle  was  fought.  Again  the  Russians  were  overpowered, 
and  the  Tartars,  trampling  them  beneath  their  horses'  hoots, 
with  yells  of  triumph,  pressed  on  towards  the  metropolis. 
The  whole  city  was  in  consternation,  for  it  had  no  means  of 
effectual  resistance.  Ivan  IV.  in  his  terror  packed  up  his 
most  valuable  effects,  and,  with  tiie  royal  family,  fled  to  a 
strong  fortress  far  away  in  the  North. 

From  the  battlements  of  the  city,  the  banners  of  these 
terrible  barbaiians  were  soon  seen  on  the  api»roach.  With 
bugle  blasts  and  savage  shouts  they  rushed  in  at  the  gates, 
swept  the  streets  with  their  sabers,  pillaged  houses  and 
churches,  and  set  the  city  on  Are  in  all  directions.  The  city 
was  at  that  time,  according  to  the  testimony  of  the  cotem- 
porary  annalists,  forty  miles  in  circumference.  The  weltering 
flames  rose  and  fell  as  in  the  crater  of  a  volcano,  and  in  six 
hours  the  city  was  in  ashes.  Thousands  perished  in  the 
flames.  The  fire,  communicating  with  a  powder  magazine, 
produced  an  explosion  which  uphove  the  buildings  like  an 
earthquake,  and  prostrated  more  than  a  third  of  a  mile  of  the 
city  walls.  According  to  the  most  reliable  testimony,  there 
perished  in  Moscow,  by  fire  and  sword,  from  this  one  raid  of 
the  Tartars,  more  than  one  hundred  and  fifty  thousand  of  its 
inhabitants. 

The  Tartars,  tottering  beneath  tlie  burden  of  their  s|)oil, 
and  dragging  after  them  many  thousand  prisoners  of  distinc- 
tion, slowly,  proudly,  defiantly  letired.  With  barbaric  genius 
they  sent  to  the  tzar  a  naked  cimiter,  accompanied  Ijy  the 
following  message : 

"This  is  a  token  left  to  your  majesty  by  an  enemy,  whose 


262  THE      EMPIRE      OF     KUSSIA. 

revenge  is  still  unsatiated,  and  who  will  soon  return  again  to 
complete  the  work  which  he  has  but  just  begun." 

Such  is  war.  It  is  but  a  succession  of  miseries.  A  hun- 
dred and  Hfty  thousand  Tartars  perished  but  a  i'ew  nujiitlis 
before  in  the  waves  of  the  Euxine.  Now,  a  liundi-ed  and  fifty 
thousand  Russians  perisli,  in  their  turn,  amidst  the  flames  of 
Moscow.  When  we  contemplate  the  wars  which  have  ince-s- 
santly  ravaged  this  globe,  the  history  of  man  seems  to  be  but 
the  record  of  the  stiifes  of  demons,  with  occasional  gleams  of 
angel  magnaniuiity. 

After  the  i-eti-eat  of  the  Tartars,  Ivan  IV.  convened  a 
council  of  war,  punished  with  death  those  officers  who  had 
fled  before  the  enemy  as  he  himself  had  done  ;  and,  rendered 
pliant  by  accumulated  misfortune,  he  presented  such  overtures 
to  the  King  of  Poland  as  to  obtain  the  promise  of  a  truce  for 
three  years.  Soon  after  this,  Sigismond,  King  of  Poland, 
died.  The  crown  was  elective,  and  the  nobles,  who  met  to 
choose  a  new  monarch,  by  a  considerable  majority  invited 
Maximilian  II.,  Emperor  of  Germany,  to  assume  the  scepter. 
They  assigned  as  a  reason  for  this  choice,  which  surprised 
Europe,  the  religious  liberality  of  the  emperor,  who,  as  they 
justly  remarked,  had  conciliated  the  contending  factions  of 
the  Chiistian  world,  and  had  acquired  more  glory  by  his 
pacific  policy  than  other  princes  had  acquired  in  tlie  exploits 
of  war. 

A  minority  of  the  nobles  were  displeased  with  this  choice, 
and  refusing  to  accede  to  the  vote  of  tlie  majoi-ity,  pi-oceeded 
to  another  election,  and  chose  Stephen  Bathori,  a  warrior 
chief  of  Ti-ansylvania,  as  their  sovereign.*  Tlie  two  parties 
now  rallied  aroiuid  their  rival  candidates  and  prepared  for 
war.  Ivan  IV.  could  not  allow  so  favorable  an  oppoitunity 
to  interfere  in  the  politics  of  Poland  to  escape  him.  He  im- 
mediately sent  embassadors  to  Maximilian,  oflVring  to  assist 
him  with  all  the  power  of  the  Russian  armies  against  Stephen 

*  Seo  Empire  of  Austria,  page  181. 


THE     ABDICATION      OF      IVAN      IV.  263 

Bathori.  Maximilian  gratefully  acknowledged  the  generosity 
of  the  tzar,  and  promised  to  return  the  favor  whenever  an 
opportunity  should  be  presented.  At  the  same  time,  Stephen 
Bathori,  who  had  ah'eady  been  ci'owned  King  of  Poland,  sent 
an  embassador  to  Moscow  to  inform  Ivan  of  his  election  and 
coronation,  and  to  propose  friendly  relations  with  Russia. 
Ivan  answered  frankly  that  a  treaty  already  existed  between 
him  and  the  Emperor  Maximilian,  but  that,  since  he  wished 
to  live  on  friendly  terms  with  Poland,  whoever  her  monarch 
might  be,  lie  would  send  embassadors  to  examine  into  the 
claims  of  the  i-iv:il  candidates  for  the  crown.  Thus  adroitly 
he  endeavored  to  obtain  for  himself  the  i)Osition  of  umpire 
between  Alaximilian  and  Stephen  Bathori.  The  death  of  the 
Emperor  Maximilian  on  the  12th  of  October,  157G,  settled 
this  strife,  and  Stejihen  attained  the  rindisputed  sovereignty 
of  Poland. 

Almost  the  first  measure  of  the  new  sovereign,  in  accord- 
ance with  hereditary  usage,  was  war  against  Russia.  Plis  ob- 
ject was  to  regain  those  territories  which  the  tzar  had  here- 
tofore wrested  from  the  Poles.  Apparently  trivial  incidents 
reveal  the  rude  and  fierce  character  of  the  times.  Stephen 
chivalrously  sent  first  an  embassador,  Basil  Lapotinsky,  to  the 
court  of  Ivan,  to  demand  the  restitution  of  the  provinces. 
Lapotinsky  was  accompanied  by  a  numerous  train  of  nobles, 
magnificently  mounted  and  armed  to  the  teeth.  As  the  glit- 
tering cavalcade,  protected  by  its  flag  of  truce,  swept  along 
through  the  cities  of  Russia  towards  Moscow,  and  it  became 
known  that  they  were  tlie  bearers  of  an  imperious  message, 
demanding  the  surrender  of  portions  of  the  Russian  empire,  (he 
populace  were  with  difiiculty  restrained  from  filling  upon  ihcm. 

Thi'ough  M  thousand  dangers  they  reached  Moscow.  When 
there,  Lajjotinsky  declared  that  he  came  not  as  a  suppliant, 
but  to  present  a  claim  whicli  his  master  was  pi-ejjarcd  to 
enforce,  if  necessary,  with  the  sword,  and  that,  in  accord- 
ance with  the  character  of  his  mission,  he  was  directed,  in  hia 


204  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

audience  with  Ivan,  to  present  the  letter  with  one  hand  while 
he  held  his  unsheathed  saber  in  the  other.  The  officers  of 
the  imperial  household  assured  him  that  such  bravado  would 
inevitably  cost  him  his  life. 

"  Tlie  tzar,"  Lapotinsky  replied,  "  can  easily  take  my  life, 
and  he  may  do  so  if  he  please,  but  nothhig  shall  prevent  me 
from  performing  the  duty  with  which  I  am  intrusted,  with  the 
utmost  exactitude." 

The  audience  day  arrived.  Lapotinsky  was  conducted  to 
the  Kremlin.  The  tzar,  in  his  imperial  robes  glittering  with 
diamonds  and  pearls,  received  him  in  a  magniticent  hall.  The 
haughty  embassador,  with  great  dignity  and  in  respectful 
terms,  yet  bold  and  decisive,  demanded  reparation  for  the 
injuries  which  Russia  had  inflicted  upon  Poland.  His  gleam- 
ing saber  was  carelessly  held  in  one  hand  and  the  letter  to 
the  tzar,  from  the  King  of  Poland,  in  the  other.  Having 
finished  his  brief  speech,  he  received  a  cimeter  from  one  of 
his  suite,  and,  advancing  firmly,  yet  very  respectfully,  to  the 
monarcli,  presented  them  both,  saying, 

"  Here  is  peace  and  here  is  war.  It  is  for  your  majesty  to 
choose  between  them." 

Ivan  IV.  was  capable  of  appreciating  the  nobility  of  such 
a  charactei'.  The  intrepidity  of  the  embassador,  which  was 
defiled  with  no  commingUngs  of  insolence,  excited  his  admira- 
tion. The  emperor,  with  a  smile,  took  the  letter,  which  was 
written  on  parchment  in  the  Russian  language  and  sealed 
with  a  seal  of  gold.  Slowly  and  carefully  he  read  it,  and  then 
addressing  the  embassador,  said, 

"  Such  menaces  will  not  induce  Russia  to  surrender  her 
dominions  to  Poland.  We,  who  have  vanquished  the  Poles 
on  so  many  fields  of  battle,  who  have  conquered  the  Tartars 
of  Kezan  and  Astrachan,  and  who  have  triumphed  over  the 
forces  of  the  Ottoman  empire,  will  soon  cause  the  King  of 
Poland  to  repent  his  rashness." 

He  then  dismissed  the   embassadoi*,  ordering  him  to  be 


THJi      ABDICATION      OF      IVAN      IV.  265 

li-eateJ  with  the  respect  due  his  high  station.  War  being 
thus  formally  declared,  both  parties  prepared  to  prosecute  it 
Avith  the  utmost  vigor.  The  tzar  immediately  commenced 
raising  a  large  army,  reinforced  his  garrisons,  and  sent  a 
secret  envoy  to  Tauride,  to  excite  the  Crimean  Tartars  to 
invade  Poland  on  the  south-east  while  Russia  should  make  an 
assault  from  the  north. 

Tlie  Poles  opened  the  campaign  by  crossing  the  frontiers 
with  a  large  army,  seizing  several  minor  cities  and  laying- 
siege  to  the  important  fortress  of  Polotzk.  After  a  long- 
siege,  which  cunstituted  one  of  tliose  terrific  tragedies  of 
blood  and  woe  with  which  the  pages  of  history  are  filled,  but 
which  no  pen  can  describe  and  no  imagination  can  conceive, 
the  city,  a  pile  of  gory  and  smouldering  ruins,  fell  into  the 
liands  of  the  Poles.  Battle  after  battle,  siege  after  siege 
ensued,  in  nearly  all  of  which  the  Poles  were  successful. 
They  were  guided  by  their  monarch  in  jjerson,  a  vetertui 
warrior,  who  possessed  extraordinary  military  skill.  The 
blasts  of  winter  drove  both  parties  from  the  field.  But,  in 
the  earliest  spring,  the  campaign  was  opened  again  with 
redoubled  energy.  Again  the  Poles,  who  had  obtained 
strung  reinforcements  of  troops  from  Germany  and  Hungary, 
were  signally  successful.  Though  tlie  fighting  was  constant 
and  arduous,  the  whole  campaign  was  but  a  series  of  con- 
quests on  the  i)art  of  Stephen,  and  wlien  the  snows  of  another 
winter  whitened  the  tields,  the  Polisli  biiniiers  were  waving 
over  large  poitions  of  the  Russian  territory.  The  details  of 
these  scenes  are  res  oiling.  Fire,  blood  and  the  brutal  passions 
of  demoniac  men  were  combined  in  deeds  of  iiorror,  the  recital 
of  which  makes  the  ears  to  tingle. 

Before  the  buds  of  another  sjiring  had  o[K'ned  into  leaf,  tJie 
contending  armies  were  again  u}»on  the  march.  Poland  had 
now  succeeded  in  enlisting  Sweden  in  her  cause,  and  Russia 
began  to  be  quite  seriously  imperiled.  Riga,  on  the  Dwina, 
soon  fell  into  the  hands  of  the  Poles,  and  their  banners  were 

12 


266  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

resistlessly  on  the  advance.  Ivan  IV.,  much  dejected,  pro- 
posed terms  of  peace.  Stephen  refused  to  treat  unless  Russia 
Avouli  surrender  the  whole  of  Livonia,  a  province  nearly  three 
times  as  large  as  the  State  of  Massachusetts,  to  Poland.  The 
tzar  was  compelled  essentially  to  yield  to  these  hard  terms. 

The  treaty  of  peace  was  signed  on  the  loth  of  January, 
1582.  Ivan  IV.  surrendered  to  Poland  all  of  Livonia  which 
bordered  on  Poland,  which  contained  thirty-four  towns  and 
castles,  together  with  several  other  important  fortresses  on 
the  frontiers.  A  truce  was  concluded  for  ten  years,  should 
botli  parties  live  so  long.  But  should  either  die,  the  survivor 
was  at  liberty  immediately  to  attack  the  territory  of  the  de- 
ceased. No  mention  whatever  was  made  of  Sweden  in  this 
treaty.  Tliis  neglect  gave  such  ofiense  to  the  Swedish  court, 
that,  in  petty  revenge,  they  sent  an  Italian  cook  to  the  Polish 
court  as  an  embassador  with  the  most  arrogant  demands. 
Stephen  very  wisely  treated  the  insult,  which  he  probably 
deserved,  with  contempt. 

The  result  of  this  war,  so  humiliating  to  Russia,  rendered 
Ivan  very  unpopular.  Murmurs  loud  and  deep  were  heard 
all  over  the  empire.  Many  of  the  nobles  threw  themselves  at 
the  feet  of  the  tzar  and  entreated  hira  not  to  assent  to  so  dis- 
graceful a  treaty,  assuring  him  that  the  whole  nation  were 
ready  at  his  call  to  rise  and  drive  the  invaders  from  the  em- 
pire. Ivan  was  greatly  incensed,  and  petulantly  replied  that 
if  they  were  not  satisfied  with  his  admhiistration  they  had 
better  choose  another  sovereign.  Suspecting  that  his  son  was 
inciting  this  movement,  and  that  he  perhaps  was  aiming  at 
the  crown,  Ivan  assaiknl  him  in  tlie  bitterest  terms  of  leproach. 
The  young  prince  replied  in  a  manner  which  so  exasperated 
his  father,  that  he  struck  him  witli  a  stulf  wliich  lie  had  in  his 
hand.  The  staif  was  tipped  with  an  iron  ferule  which  unfor- 
tunately hit  the  young  man  on  the  temple,  and  he  fell  senseless 
at  his  father's  feet. 

The  anguish  of  Ivan  was  unspeakable.     His  paroxysm  of 


THE     ABDICATION      OF     IVAX     IV.  '267 

anger  instantly  gave  place  to  a  more  intense  paroxysm  of 
grief  and  remorse.  He  threw  himself  upon  the  body  of  his 
son,  pressed  him  fervently  to  his  heart,  and  addressed  him  in 
the  most  endearing  terms  of  affection  and  affliction.  The 
prince  so  far  revived  as  to  be  able  to  exchange  a  few  words 
with  his  father,  but  in  four  days  he  died.  The  blow  which 
depiived  the  son  of  life,  for  ever  after  deprived  the  father  of 
peace.  He  was  seldom  again  seen  to  smile.  Any  mention  of 
his  son  would  ever  throw  him  into  a  paroxysm  of  tears.  For 
a  long  time  lie  could  with  difficulty  be  persuaded  to  take  any 
nourishment  or  to  change  his  dress.  With  the  utmost  possible 
demonstrations  of  grief  and  respect  the  remains  of  the  prince 
were  conveyed  to  the  grave.  The  death  of  this  young  man 
was  a  calamity  to  Russia.  He  was  the  worthy  son  of  Anas- 
tasia,  and  from  his  mother  he  had  inherited  both  genius  and 
moral  worth.  By  a  subsequent  marriage  Ivan  had  two  other 
sons,  Feodor  and  Dmitri,  But  they  were  of  different  blood ; 
feeble  in  intellect  and  possessed  no  requisites  for  the  exalted 
station  opening  before  them. 


CHAPTER     XVI. 

THE    STORMS    OF    HEREDITARY    SUCCESSION. 
From  1582  to  1608. 


Anguish  and  Death  of  Ivan  IV. — lIis  Character. — Feodor  and  Dmitri. — TJsubpa- 
TioN  OF  Boris  Gudenow. — The  Polish  Election. — Conquest  of  Siberia. — Assas- 
sination OF  Dmitri. — Death  of  Fkodor. — Boris  Crowned  King. — Comspiracies. 
— Reappearance  of  Dmitri. — Boris  Poisoned. — The  Pretender  Crowned. — 
Embarrassments  of  Dmitrl — A  New  Pretender.— Assassination  of  D.mitri. — 
Crowning  op  Zuski. — Indignation  op  Poland. — Historical  Ro.manoe. 


rpHE  hasty  blow  which  deprived  the  son  of  Ivan  of  life  was 
-■-  also  fetal  to  the  fethei-.  He  never  recovered  from  the 
effects.  After  a  few  months  of  anguish  and  remorse,  Ivan  IV, 
sank  sorrowing  to  the  grave.  Penitent,  prayerful  and  assured 
that  his  sins  were  forgiven,  he  met  death  with  perfect  com- 
posure. The  last  days  of  his  life  were  devoted  exclusively  to 
such  preparations  for  his  departure  that  the  welfai-e  of  his  peo- 
ple might  be  undisturbed.  He  ordered  a  general  act  of  am- 
nesty to  be  proclaimed  to  all  the  prisoners  throughout  all 
the  enapire,  aboHshed  several  onerous  taxes,  restored  several 
confiscated  estates  to  their  original  owners,  and  urged  his  son, 
Feodor,  who  was  to  be  his  successor,  to  make  every  possible 
endeavor  to  live  at  peace  with  liis  neighbors,  that  Russia 
might  thus  be  saved  from  the  woes  of  war.  Exhausted  by  a 
long  interview  with  his  son,  he  took  a  bath  ;  on  coming  out 
he  reclined  upon  a  couch,  and  suddenly,  without  a  struggle  or 
a  groan,  was  dead. 

Ivan  IV.  has  ever  been  regarded  as  one  of  the  most  illus- 
trious of  the  Russian  monarchs.  He  was  eminently  a  learned 
prince  for  the  times  in  which  he  lived,  entertaining  uncora- 


STORMS     OF     HEREDITARY     SUCCESSION.  209 

nionly  just  views  both  of  i-eligion  and  politics.  In  religion  he 
was  tolerant  far  above  his  age,  allowing  no  Christians  to  be 
persecnted  for  their  belief.  We  regret  that  this  high  praise 
must  be  limited  by  his  treatment  of  the  Jews,  whom  he  could 
not  endure.  With  conscientiousness,  unenlightened  and  big- 
oted, he  declared  that  those  who  had  betrayed  and  crucified 
the  Saviour  of  the  world  ought  not  to  be  tolerated  by  any 
Christian  prince.  He  accordingly  ordered  every  Jew  either 
to  be  baptized  into  the  Christian  faith  or  to  depart  from  the 
empire. 

Ivan  was  natui-ally  of  a  very  hasty  temper,  which  was  nur 
tured  by  the  cruel  and  shameful  neglect  of  his  early  years. 
Though  he  struggled  against  this  intirmity,  it  would  occasion- 
ally break  out  in  paroxysms  which  caused  bitter  repentance. 
The  death  of  his  son,  caused  by  one  of  these  outbreaks,  was 
the  great  woe  of  his  life.  Still  he  was  distinguished  for  his 
love  of  Justice.  At  stated  times  the  aggrieved  of  every  latik 
were  admitted  to  his  piesence,  where  they  in  person  presented 
their  petitions.  If  any  minister  or  governor  was  found  guilty 
of  oppression,  he  was  sure  to  meet  with  condign  punishment. 
This  impartiality,  from  which  no  noble  was  exempted,  at  times 
exasperated  greatly  the  haughty  aristocracy.  He  was  also 
inllexible  ui  his  determination  to  confer  office  only  upon  those 
who  were  worthy  of  the  trust.  No  solicitations  or  views  of 
selt-interest  could  hiduce  him  to  swerve  from  this  resolve. 
Intempeiance  he  especially  abominated,  and  frowned  upon 
the  degrading  vice  alike  in  prince  or  peasant.  He  conferred 
an  inestimable  favor  upon  Russia  by  causing  a  compilation,  for 
the  use  of  his  subjects,  of  a  body  of  laws,  which  was  called 
"  The  Book  of  Justice.''  This  code  was  presented  to  the 
judges,  and  was  regarded  as  authority  in  all  law  proceedings. 

The  historians  of  those  days  record  that  his  memory  was 
80  remarkable  that  he  could  call  all  the  officers  of  his  army  by 
name,  and  could  oven  remember  the  name  of  every  prisoner 
he  had  taken,  numbering  maiiy  thousands.     In  those;  days  of 


2Y0  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

dim  enliglitenment,  wlien  the  masses  were  little  elevated  above 
the  animal,  the  popular  mind  was  more  easily  impressed  by 
material  than  intellectual  grandeur.  It  was  then  deemed  ne- 
cessary, among  the  unenlightened  nations  of  Europe,  to  over- 
awe the  multitude  by  the  splendor  of  the  throne — by  scepters, 
robes  and  diadems  glittering  with  pi'iceless  jewels  and  with 
gold.  The  crown  regalia  of  Russia  were  inestimably  lich. 
The  robe  of  the  monarch  was  of  purple,  embroidered  with 
precious  stones,  and  even  his  shoes  sparkled  with  diamonds  of 
dazzling  luster. 

When  he  sat  upon  his  throne  to  receive  foreign  embassa- 
dors, or  the  members  of  his  own  court,  he  held  in  his  right 
hand  a  globe,  the  emblem  of  universal  monarchy,  enriched 
with  all  the  jeweled  splendor  which  art  could  entwine  around 
it.  In  his  left  hand  he  held  a  scej^ter,  which  also  dazzled  the 
eye  by  its  suj^erb  embellishments.  His  fingers  were  laden  with 
the  most  precious  gems  the  Indies  could  afford.  Whenever 
he  appeared  in  public,  the  arms  of  the  empire,  finely  embroi- 
dered upon  a  spread  eagle,  and  magnificently  adorned,  were 
borne  as  a  banner  before  him ;  and  the  masses  of  the  people 
bowed  before  their  monarch,  thus  ai'i-ayed,  as  though  he  were 
a  god. 

Ivan  IV,  left  two  sons,  Feodor  and  Dmitri.  Feodor,  who 
succeeded  his  father,  was  twenty  years  of  age,  weak,  charac- 
terless, though  quite  amiable.  In  his  early  youth  his  chief 
pleasure  seemed  to  consist  in  ringing  the  bells  of  Moscow, 
which  led  his  father,  at  one  time,  to  say  that  he  was  fitter 
to  be  the  son  of  a  sexton  than  of  a  prince.  Dmitri  was  an 
infant.  He  was  placed,  by  his  father's  will,  under  the  tutelage 
of  :ni  energetic,  ambitious  noble,  by  the  name  of  Bogdan  Biel- 
ski.  This  aspiring  nobleman,  conscious  of  the  incapacity  of 
Feodor  to  govern,  laid  his  plans  to  obtain  the  throne  for  him- 
self 

Feodor  was  crowned  immediately  after  the  death  of  his 
father,  and  ])roceeded  at  once  to  carry  out  the  provisions  of 


STORMS      OP      HEREDITARY      SUCCESSION.       271 

his  will  by  liberating  the  prisoners,  abolishing  the  taxes  and 
restoring  confiscated  estates.  He  also  abolished  the  body 
guard  of  the  tzar,  which  had  become  peculiarly  obnoxious  to 
the  nation.  These  measures  rendered  him,  for  a  tiuie,  very 
popular.  This  popularity  thwarted  Bielski  in  the  plan  of 
organizing  tlie  people  and  the  nobles  in  a  consijiracy  against 
the  young  monarch,  and  the  nobles  even  became  so  much 
alarmed  by  the  proceedings  of  the  haughty  minister,  who  was 
so  evidently  aiming  at  the  usurpation  of  the  throne,  that  they 
besieged  him  in  his  castle.  The  fortress  was  strong,  and  the 
powerful  feudal  lord,  rallying  his  vassals  around  him,  made  a 
valiant  and  a  protracted  defense.  At  length,  finding  that  he 
would  be  compelled  to  surrender,  he  attempted  to  escape  in 
disguise.  Being  taken  a  captive,  he  was  offered  his  choice, 
death,  or  the  renunciation  of  all  political  influence  and  de- 
parture into  exile.  He  chose  the  latter,  and  retired  beyond 
the  Volga  to  one  of  the  most  remote  provinces  of  Kezan. 

Feodor  had  married  the  daughter  of  one  of  the  most  il- 
lustrious of  his  nobler.  His  father-iii-law,  a  man  of  peculiar 
address  and  capacity,  with  ability  both  to  conceive  and  exe- 
cute the  greatest  undertakings,  soon  attained  supremacy  over 
the  mind  of  the  feeble  monarch.  The  name  of  this  noble, 
who  became  lenowned  in  Russian  annals,  was  Boris  Gudenow 
He  had  the  rare  faculty  of  winning  the  fivor  of  all  whom  he 
approached.  With  rajiid  strides  he  attained  the  i)osts  ot 
prime  minister,  commander-in-chief  and  co-regent  of  the  em- 
pire. A  Polish  embassador  at  this  time  visited  Moscow,  and, 
witnessing  the  extreme  feebleness  of  Feodor,  sent  word  to 
liis  ambitious  master,  Stephen  Bathori,  that  nothing  would 
be  easier  than  to  invade  Russia  successfully  ;  that  Smolensk 
could  easily  be  taken,  and  that  thence  the  Polish  army  might 
find  an  almost  unobstructed  march  to  Moscow.  But  death 
soon  removed  the  Polish  monarch  from  the  labyrinths  of  war 
and  diplomacy. 

Boris  was  now  virtually  the  monarch  of  Russia,  reigning, 


272  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

however,  in  the  name  of  Feodor.  We  have  before  mentioned 
that  Poland  was  an  elective  monarchy.  Immediately  upon 
the  death  of  a  sovereign,  the  nobles,  with  their  bands  of 
retainers,  often  eighty  thousand  in  number,  met  upon  a  large 
plain,  where  they  spent  many  days  in  intrigues  and  finally  in 
the  election  of  a  new  chieftain.  Boris  Gudenow  now  roused 
all  his  energies  in  the  endeavor  to  unite  Poland  and  Russia 
under  one  monarchy  by  the  election  of  Feodor  as  sovereign 
of  the  latter  kingdom.  The  Polish  nobles,  j^roud  and  self- 
contident,  and  apprised  of  the  incapacity  of  Feodoi",  were 
many  of  them  in  favor  of  the  plan,  as  Boris  had  adroitly  inti- 
mated to  them  that  they  might  regard  the  measure  rather  as 
the  annexing  Russia  to  Poland  than  Poland  to  Russia.  All 
that  Boris  cared  for  was  the  lact  accomplished.  He  was  will- 
ing that  the  agents  of  his  schemes  should  be  influenced  by 
any  motives  which  might  be  most  efficacious. 

The  Polish  diet  met  in  a  stormy  session,  and  finally,  a  ma- 
jority of  its  members,  instead  of  voting  for  Feodor,  elected 
Prince  Sigismond,  a  son  of  John,  King  of  Sweden.  This 
election  greatly  alarmed  Russia,  as  it  allied  Poland  and  Swe- 
den by  the  most  intimate  ties,  and  might  eventually  place 
the  crown  of  both  of  those  powerful  kingdoms  upon  the 
same  brow.  These  apprehensions  were  increased  by  the  fact 
that  the  Crimean  Tartars  soon  again  began  to  make  hostile 
demonstrations,  and  it  was  feared  that  they  were  moving  only 
in  accordance  with  suggestions  which  had  been  sent  to  them 
from  Poland  and  Sweden,  and  that  thus  a  triple  alliance  was 
about  to  desolate  the  empire.  The  Tartars  commenced  their 
march.  But  Boris  met  them  with  sucli  energy  that  they  were 
driven  back  in  utter  discomtiture. 

Tiie  nothern  portion  of  Asia  consisted  of  a  vast,  desolate, 
thin1y-])eopled  country  called  Siberia.  It  was  bounded  by  the 
Caucasian  and  Altai  mountains  on  tin;  south,  the  Tral  moun- 
tains on  the  west,  the  Pacific  Ocean  on  tlie  east,  and  the  Froz- 
en Ocean  on  the  north.     Most  of  the  region  was  within  the 


STORMS      OF      IlEKKDITARY      SUCCESSION.       273 

limits  of  the  frozen  zone,  and  the  most  southern  sections  were 
cokl  and  inhospitable,  enjoying  but  a  gleam  of  summer  sun- 
shine. This  country,  embracing  over  four  millions  of  square 
miles,  being  thus  larger  than  the  whole  of  Europe,  contained 
but  about  two  millions  of  inhabitants.  It  was  watered  by 
some  of  the  most  majestic  rivers  on  the  globe,  the  Oby, 
Enisei  and  the  Lena.  The  population  consisted  mostly  of 
wandering  Mohammedan  Tartars,  in  a  very  low  state  of 
civilization.  At  that  time  there  were  but  two  important 
towns  in  this  region,  Tura  and  Tobolsk.  Some  of  the  barba- 
rians of  this  region  descended  to  the  shores  of  the  Volga,  in 
a  desolating,  predatory  excursion.  A  Russian  army  drove 
them  back,  pursued  them  to  their  homes,  took  both  of  these 
towns,  erected  fortresses,  and  gradually  brought  the  whole 
of  Siberia  under  Russian  sway.  This  great  conquest  was 
achieved  almost  without  bloodshed. 

Boris  Gudenow  now  exercised  all  the  functions  of  sover- 
eign authority.  His  energy  had  enriched  Russia  with  the 
accession  of  Siberia.  He  now  resolved  to  lay  aside  the  feeble 
prince  Feodor,  wlio  nominally  occupied  the  throne,  and  to 
place  the  crown  upon  his  own  brow.  It  seemed  to  him  an 
easy  thing  to  appropriate  the  emblems  of  power,  since  he 
already  enjoyed  all  the  prerogatives  of  royalty.  Under  the 
pretense  of  rewarding,  with  important  posts  of  trust,  the 
most  efficient  of  tlie  nobles,  he  removed  all  those  Avhose  in- 
fluence he  had  most  to  dread,  to  distant  provinces  and 
foreign  embassies.  He  then  endeavored,  by  many  lavors, 
to  win  the  affections  of  the  populace  of  Moscow. 

The  young  prince  Dmitri  had  now  attained  his  ninth 
year,  and  was  residing,  under  the  care  of  his  tutors,  at  the 
city  of  Uglitz,  about  two  hundred  miles  from  Moscow.  Ug- 
litz,  with  its  dependencies,  had  been  assigned  to  him  for  his 
appanage.  Gudenow  deemed  it  essential,  to  his  secure  oc- 
cupancy of  the  tin-one,  that  this  young  prince  should  be  ])ut 
out  of  the  way.     He  accordingly  employed  a  Russian  officer, 

12* 


2V4  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

by  the  promise  of  immense  rewards,  to  assassinate  the  child 
And  then,  the  deed  having  been  performed,  to  prevent  the 
possibility  of  his  agency  in  it  being  divulged,  he  caused 
another  low-born  murderer  to  track  the  path  of  the  officer 
and  plunge  a  dagger  into  his  bosom.  Both  murders  were 
successfully  accomplished. 

The  news  of  the  assassination  of  the  young  prince  soon 
reached  Moscow,  and  caused  intense  excitement.  Gudenow 
was  by  many  suspected,  though  he  endeavored  to  stifle  the 
report  by  clamorous  expressions  of  horror  and  indignation, 
and  by  apparently  making  the  most  strenuous  efforts  to 
discover  the  murderers.  As  an  expression  of  his  rage,  he 
sent  troops  to  demolish  the  fortress  of  Uglitz,  and  to  drive 
the  inhabitants  from  the  city,  because  they  had,  as  he  as- 
serted, harbored  the  assassins.  Soon  after  this  Feodor  was 
suddenly  taken  ill.  He  lingered  upon  his  bed  for  a  few  day-^ 
in  great  pain,  and  then  died.  When  the  king  was  lying  upon 
this  dying  bed,  Boris  Gudenow,  who,  it  will  be  recollected, 
Avas  the  father  of  the  wife  of  Feodor,  succeeded  iu  obtaining 
from  him  a  sort  of  bequest  of  the  throne,  and  immediately 
upon  the  death  of  the  king,  he  assumed  the  state  of  royalty 
as  a  duty  enjoined  upon  him  by  this  bequest.  The  death  of 
Feodor  terminated  the  reign  of  the  house  of  Ruric,  which 
had  now  governed  Russia  for  more  than  seven  hundred  years. 

Not  a  little  artifice  was  still  requisite  to  quell  the  indig- 
nant passions  which  were  rising  in  the  bosoms  of  the  nobles. 
But  Gudenow  was  a  consummate  master  of  his  art,  and  through 
tlie  intrigues  of  years  had  the  programme  of  operations  all 
arranged.  According  to  custom,  six  weeks  were  devoted  to 
mourning  for  Feodor.  Boris  then  assembled  the  nobility  and 
principal  citizens  of  Moscow,  in  the  Kremlin,  and,  to  the  un- 
utterable suri)rise  of  many  of  them,  declared  that  he  could 
not  consent  to  assume  the  weighty  cares  and  intinite  respon- 
sibilities of  royalty  ;  that  the  empire  was  unfoitunately  left 
"without  a  sovereign,  and  that  they  must  proceed  to  designate 


STORMS      OF      HEREDITARY      STTCCESSION.       275 

the  one  to  whom  the  crown  shonld  be  transferred  ;  that  he, 
worn  down  with  the  toils  of  State,  had  decided  to  retire  to  a 
monastery,  and  devote  the  remainder  of  his  days  to  poverty, 
retirement  and  to  God.  He  immediately  took  leave  of  the 
astonished  and  perplexed  assembly,  and  withdrew  to  a  con- 
vent about  three  miles  from  Moscow. 

The  partisans  of  Boris  were  prepared  to  act  their  ])art. 
They  stated  that  intelligence  had  arrived  that  the  Tartars, 
with  an  immense  army,  had  commenced  the  invasion  of  Rus- 
sia;  that  Boris  alone  was  familiar  with  the  condition  and  re- 
sources of  the  empire,  and  with  the  details  of  administration 
— that  he  was  a  veteran  soldier,  and  that  his  military  genius 
and  vigorous  arm  were  requisite  to  beat  back  the  foe.  These 
considerations  were  influential,  and  a  deputation  was  chosen 
to  urge  Boris,  as  he  loved  his  country,  to  continue  in  power 
and  accept  the  scepter,  which,  as  prime  minister,  lie  had  so 
Jong  successfully  wielded.  Boris  affected  the  most  extreme 
reluctance.  The  populace  of  Moscow,  whose  favor  he  had 
1  urchased,  surrounded  the  convent  in  crowds,  and  with  ve- 
hemence, characteristic  of  their  impulsive,  childish  natures, 
threw  themselves  upon  the  ground,  tore  their  hair,  beat  their 
breasts,  and  declared  that  they  would  never  return  to  their 
liomes  unless  Boris  would  consent  to  be  their  sovereign. 

Pretending,  at  last,  to  be  overcome  by  these  entreaties, 
Boris  consented  to  raise  and  lead  an  army  to  repel  the  Tar- 
tars, and  he  i)romised  that  should  Providence  prosper  him  in 
this  enterprise,  he  would  regard  it  as  an  indication  that  it 
was  the  will  of  Heaven  that  he  should  ascend  the  throne. 
He  immediately  called  all  his  tremendous  energies  into  exer- 
cise, and  in  a  few  months  collected  an  army,  of  the  nobles 
and  of  the  militia,  amounting  to  Hve  hundred  thousand  men. 
With  great  pomp  he  rode  through  the  ranks  of  this  mighty 
host,  receiving  their  enthusiastic  applause.  In  that  day,  as 
neither  telegraphs,  newspapers  or  stage-coaches  existeil,  in- 
telligence was  transmitted   with   difficulty,  and  very  slowly. 


276  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

The  story  of  the  Tartar  invasion  proved  a  sham.  Boris  had 
originated  it  to  accomplish  his  purj^oses.  He  amused  and 
conciliated  the  soldiers  with  magnificent  parades,  intimating 
that  the  Tartars,  alarmed  by  his  vast  preparations,  had  not 
dared  to  advance  against  him.  A  year's  pay  was  ordered  for 
each  one  of  the  soldiei's.  Tlie  nobles  received  gratuities  and 
were  entertained  by  the  tzar  in  festivals,  at  which  parties  of 
ten  thousand,  day  after  day,  were  feasted,  during  an  inter- 
val of  six  weeks.  Boris  then  returned  to  Moscow.  The  peo- 
2)le  met  him  several  miles  from  the  city,  and  conducted  him 
in  triumph  to  the  Kremlin.  He  was  crowned,  with  great 
pomp.  Emperor  of  Russia,  on  the  1st  of  September,  1577. 

Boris  watched,  with  an  eagle  eye,  all  those  who  could  by 
any  possibility  disturb  his  reign  or  endanger  the  permanence 
of  the  new  dynasty  which  he  wished  to  establish.  Some  of 
the  princes  of  the  old  royal  family  were  forbidden  to  marry  ; 
others  were  banished  to  Siberia.  The  diadem,  thus  usurped, 
proved  indeed  a  crown  of  thorns.  That  which  is  founded  in 
crime,  can  generally  by  crime  alone  be  perpetuated.  The 
manners  of  the  usurper  were  soon  entirely  altered.  He  had 
been  affable,  easy  of  access,  and  very  popular.  But  now 
he  became  haughty,  reserved  and  suspicious.  Wishing  to 
strengthen  his  dynasty  by  royal  alliances,  he  proposed  the 
marriage  of  his  daughter  to  Gustavus,  son  of  Erie  XIV.,  King 
of  Sweden.  He  accordingly  invite<l  Gustavus  to  Moscow, 
making  him  pompous  promises.  The  young  prince  was  re- 
ceived with  magnificent  display  and  loaded  with  presents. 
But  there  was  soon  a  falling  out  between  Boris  and  his  in- 
tended son-in-law,  and  the  young  prince  was  dismissed  in 
disgrace.  He  however  succeeded  in  establishing  a  treaty  of 
peace  with  the  Poles,  which  was  to  continue  twenty  years 
He  also  was  successful  in  contracting  an  alliance  for  his  daugh- 
ter Axinia,  with  Duke  John  of  Denmark.  The  marriage  was 
celebrated  in  Moscow  in  1G02  with  great  splendor.  But  even 
before   the   marriage  festivities   were  closed,  the   duke   was 


STORMS      OF      HEKEDITARY      SUCCESSION.       277 

taken   sick  and  died,  to  the  inexpressible   disappointment  of 
Boris. 

The  Turks  from  Constantinople  sent  an  embassy  to  Mos 
cow  with  lich  presents,  proposing  a  treaty  of  friendship  and 
alliance.  But  Boris  declined  the  presents  and  dismissed  the 
embassadors,  sayino-  that  he  could  never  be  friendly  to  the 
Turks,  as  thi-y  were  the  enemies  of  Christianity.  Like  many 
other  men,  he  could  trample  upon  the  precei)ts  of  the  gospel, 
and  yet  be  zealous  of  Christianity  as  a  doctrinal  code  or  an 
institution. 

A  repjort  was  now  circulated  that  the  young  Dmitri  was 
still  alive,  that  his  mother,  conscious  of  the  danger  of  his 
assassination,  had  placed  the  prince  in  a  position  of  safety,  and 
that  another  child  had  been  assassinated  in  his  stead.  This 
rumor  overwhelmed  the  guilty  soul  of  Boris  with  melancholy. 
His  fears  were  so  strongly  excited,  that  several  nobles,  who 
were  supposed  to  be  in  the  interests  of  the  young  prince, 
were  put  to  the  rack  to  extort  a  confession.  But  no  positive 
information  respecting  Dmitri  could  be  gained.  The  mother 
of  Dmitri  was  banished  to  an  obscure  fortress  six  hundred 
miles  from  Moscow. 

The  emissai-ies  of  Boris  were  everywhere  busy  to  detect, 
if  possible,  the  hiding  ])lace  of  Dmitri.  Intelligence  was  at 
length  brought  to  the  Kremlin  that  two  monks  had  escaped 
from  a  convent  and  had  fled  to  Poland,  and  that  it  was  appre- 
hended that  one  of  thi'in  was  the  young  prince  in  disguise ; 
it  was  also  said  that  Weisnowiski,  prince  of  Kief,  was  pro- 
tector of  Dmitri,  and,  in  concert  with  others,  was  preparing 
a  movement  to  place  hini  upon  the  throne  of  his  ancestors. 
Boris  was  thrown  into  paroxysms  of  terror.  Not  knowing 
what  else  to  do,  he  franticly  sent  a  party  of  Cossacks  to  mur- 
der Weisnowiski ;  but  the  prince  was  on  his  guard,  and  the 
enterprise  failed. 

The  question,  "Have  we  a  l^ourbon  among  us?"  has  agi- 
tated the  wliole  of  the  United  States.     Tlie  question,  "  Have 


278  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

we  a  Dmitri  among  ns  ?"  then  agitated  Russia  fav  more 
intensely.  It  was  a  question  of  the  utmost  practical  impor- 
tance, involving  civil  war  and  the  removal  of  the  new  dynasty 
tor  the  restoration  of  the  old.  Whether  the  person  said  to  be 
Dmitri  were  really  such,  is  a  question  which  can  now  never 
be  settled.  The  monk  Griska  Utropeja,  who  declared  him- 
self to  be  the  ycung  prince,  sustained  his  claim  with  such  an 
array  of  evidence  as  to  secure  the  support  of  a  large  portion 
of  the  Russians,  and  also  the  cooperation  of  the  court  of 
Poland.  The  claims  of  Griska  were  brought  up  before  the 
Polish  diet  and  carefully  examined.  He  was  then  acknowl- 
edged by  them  as  the  legitimate  heir  to  the  crown  of  Russia. 
An  army  was  )"aised  to  restore  him  to  his  ancestral  throne. 
Sigisraond,  the  King  of  Poland,  with  ardor  espoused  liis 
cause. 

Boris  immediately  dispatched  an  embassy  to  Warsaw  to 
remind  Sigismond  of  the  treaty  of  alliance  into  which  he  had 
entered,  and  to  insist  upon  his  delivering  up  the  pretended 
Dmitri,  dead  or  alive,  A  threat  was  added  to  the  entreaty: 
"  If  you  countenance  this  impostor,"  said  Boris,  "  you  will 
draw  down  upon  you  a  war  which  you  niay  have  cause  to 
repent." 

Sigismond  replied,  that  though  he  had  no  doubt  that 
Griska  was  truly  the  Prince  Dmitri,  and,  as  such,  entitled  to 
the  throne  of  Russia,  still  he  had  no  disposition  personally  to 
embark  in  the  advocacy  of  his  rights ;  but,  that  if  any  of  his 
nobles  felt  disposed  to  espouse  his  claims  with  arms  or  money, 
he  certainly  should  do  nothing  to  thwart  them.  The  Polish 
nobles,  thus  encouraged,  raised  an  army  of  forty  thousand 
men,  which  they  surrendered  to  Griska.  He,  assuming  the 
name  of  Dmitri,  placed  himself  at  their  head,  and  boldly 
commenced  a  march  ui)on  Moscow.  As  soon  as  he  entered 
the  Russian  territories  many  nobles  hastened  to  his  banners, 
and  several  important  cities  declared  for  liim. 

Boris  was  excessively  alarmed.     With  characteristic  ener- 


STOR-US      OF      HEREDITARY     SUCCESSION.       279 

gy  he  speedily  raised  an  army  of  two  Imndred  thousand  men, 
and  then  was  in  the  utmost  terror  lest  this  very  army  should 
pass  over  to  the  ranks  of  his  toes.  He  applied  to  Sweden  and 
to  Denmark  to  help  him,  but  both  kingdoms  refused.  Dmitii 
advanced  trinmjihantly,  and  laid  siege  to  Novgoi'od  on  the 
21st  of  December,  1605.  For  live  months  the  war  continued 
with  varying  success.  Boris  made  every  attempt  to  secure 
the  assassination  of  Griska,  but  the  wary  chieftain  was  on  his 
guard,  and  all  such  endeavors  were  frustrated.  Griska  at 
length  decided  to  resort  to  the  same  weapons.  An  officer 
was  sent  to  the  Kremlin  with  a  feigned  account  of  a  victory 
obtained  over  the  troops  of  Dmitri.  This  officer  succeeded 
in  mingling  poison  with  the  food  of  Boris.  The  drug  was  so 
deadly  that  the  usurper  dropped  and  expired  almost  without 
a  struggle  and  without  a  groan. 

As  soon  as  Boris  was  dead,  his  widow,  a  woman  of  great 
ambition  and  energy,  lost  not  an  hour  in  proclaiming  the  suc- 
cession of  her  son,  Feodor.  The  officers  of  the  army  were 
promptly  summoned  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the 
new  sovereign,  Feodor  was  but  fifteen  years  of  age,  a 
thoroughly  spoilt  boy,  proud,  domineering,  selfish  and  cruel. 
There  was  now  a  revolt  in  the  army  of  the  late  tzar.  Several 
of  the  officers  embraced  the  cause  of  Griska,  declaring  their 
full  conviction  that  he  was  the  Prince  Dmitri,  and  they  carried 
over  to  his  ranks  a  large  body  of  the  soldiers. 

The  defection  of  the  army  caused  great  consternation  at 
court.  The  courtiers,  eager  to  secure  the  favor  of  the  prince 
whose  star  was  so  evidently  in  the  ascendant,  at  once  aban- 
donetl  the  ha])less  Feodor  and  his  enraged  mother  ;  and  the 
halls  of  the  Kremlin  and  the  streets  of  Moscow  were  soon 
resounding  with  the  name  of  Dmitri.  A  proclamation  was 
pul)lished  declaring  general  amnesty,  and  ric^h  rewards  to 
all  who  should  )-ecognize  and  support  the  rights  of  thoii-  le- 
gilimate  prince,  l)iit  that  his  opponents  must  expect  no  mercy. 
The    populace    immediately    rose    in   revolt   against   Feodor 


280  THE     E:srPIRE      of      RUSSIA. 

They  aj^sailed  the  Kremlin.  In  a  resistless  inundation  they 
forced  its  gates,  seized  the  young  tzar,  with  his  mother, 
sister  and  other  relatives,  and  hurried  them  all  to  prison. 

Dmitri  was  at  Thula  when  he  received  intelligence  of  this 
revolution.  He  immediately  sent  an  officer,  Bnsilius  Galitzan, 
to  Moscow  to  receive  the  oath  of  fidelity  of  the  city,  and,  at 
the  same  time,  he  diabolically  sent  an  assassin,  one  Ivan  Bog- 
danoff,  with  orders  to  strangle  Feodor  and  his  mother  in  the 
prison,  but  with  directions  not  to  hurt  his  sister.  Bogdanoff 
reluctantly  executed  his  mission.  On  the  15th  of  July,  1605, 
Dmitri  made  his  triumphal  entry  into  Moscow.  He  was  re- 
ceived with  all  the  noisy  demonstrations  of  public  rejoicing, 
and,  on  the  29th  of  July,  was  crowned,  with  extraordinary 
grandeur,  Emperor  of  all  the  Russias. 

The  ceremonies  of  tlie  triumphal  entrance  are  perhaps 
Avorthy  of  record.  A  detachment  of  Polish  horse  in  brilliant 
imiform  led  the  procession,  headed  by  a  numerous  band  of 
trumpeters.  Then  came  the  gorgeous  coach  of  Dmitri, 
empty,  drawn  by  six  horses,  richly  caparisoned,  and  preceded, 
followed  and  flanked  by  dense  columns  of  musqueteers.  Next 
came  a  procession  of  the  clergy  in  their  ecclesiastical  robes, 
and  with  the  banners  of  the  church.  This  procession  was  led 
by  the  bishops,  who  bore  effigies  of  the  Virgin  Mary  and  of 
St.  Nicholas,  the  patron  saint  of  Kussia.  Following  the  clergy 
appeared  Dmitri,  mounted  on  a  white  charger,  and  surround- 
ed by  a  splendid  retinue.  He  proceeded  first  to  the  church 
of  Notre  Dame,  where  a  Te  Deum  was  chanted,  and  where 
the  new  monarch  received  the  sacrament.  He  then  visited 
the  tomb  of  Ivan  IV.,  and  kneeling  upon  it,  as  the  tomb  of 
his  father,  implored  God's  blessing.  Perceiving  that  the  body 
of  Boris  Gudenow  had  received  interment  in  the  royal  ceme- 
tery, he  ordered  his  remains,  with  those  of  his  wife  and  son, 
all  three  of  whom  Dmitri  had  caused  to  be  assassinated,  to  be 
removed  to  a  common  churchyard  without  the  city. 

Either  to  silence  those  who  might  doubt  his  legitimacy 


STOUMS      OF      HEREDITARY     SUCCESSION.       281 

or  being  ti-uly  the  son  of  Ivan  IV.,  he  sent  two  of  the  nobles, 
with  a  brilliant  retinue,  to  the  convent,  more  than  six  hundred 
miles  from  Moscow,  to  which  Boris  had  banished  the  widow 
of  Ivan.  They  were  to  conduct  the  queen  dowager  to  the 
capital.  As  she  approached  the  city,  Dmitri  went  out  to  re- 
ceive her,  accompanied  by  a  great  number  of  his  nobles.  As 
soon  as  he  perceived  her  coach,  he  alighted,  went  on  foot  to 
meet  his  alleged  mother,  and  threw  himself  into  lier  arras 
with  every  demonstration  of  joy  and  affection,  which  em- 
braces she  returned  with  equal  tenderness.  Ttien,  with  Ids 
head  uncovered,  and  walking  by  the  side  of  her  carringe,  he 
conducted  her  to  the  city  and  to  the  Kremlin.  lie  ever  nftor 
treated  hei  with  the  deference  due  to  a  mother,  and  received 
from  her  corresponding  proofs  of  confidence  and  affection. 

But  Dmitri  was  thoroughly  a  bad  man,  and  every  day 
became  more  impopidar.  He  debauched  the  young  sister  of 
Feodor,  and  then  shut  her  up  in  a  convent.  He  banished 
seventy  noble  families  who  wei'e  accused  of  being  the  friends 
of  Boris,  and  gave  their  estates  and  dignities  to  his  Polish 
partisans.  A  party  was  soon  organized  against  him,  who 
busily  circulated  reports  that  he  was  an  imjwstor,  and  a  con- 
sjjiracy  was  formed  to  take  his  life.  Perplexities  and  jierils 
now  gathered  rapidly  around  his  throne.  He  surrounded 
himself  with  Polish  guards,  and  thus  increased  the  exaspera- 
tion of  his  subjects. 

To  add  to  liis  perplexities,  another  claimant  of  the  crown 
appeared,  who  declared  himself  to  be  the  son  of  the  late  tzar, 
Feodor,  son  of  Ivan  IV.  This  young  man,  named  Peter,  was 
seventeen  years  of  age.  He  had  raised  his  standard  on  the 
otlier  side  of  the  Volga,  and  had  ralliiMJ  four  thousand  parti- 
sans around  him.  In  the  meantime,  J)mitri  had  matle  ar- 
rangements tor  his  jnarriage  with  Mariana  Meneiski,  a  l*olish 
princess,  of  tlie  Koman  church.  This  princess  was  married 
to  the  tzar  by  proxy,  in  Cracow,  and  in  January,  IGOG,  with 
a  numerous  retinue  set  out  on  her  journey  to  Moscow.     She 


282  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

did  not  reach  the  capital  of  Moscow  until  the  1st  of  May. 
Her  father's  whole  family,  and  several  thousand  armed  Poland- 
ers,  by  way  of  guard,  accompanied  her.  Many  of  the  Polish 
nobles  also  took  this  opportunity  of  visiting  Russia,  and  a 
multitude  of  merchants  put  themselves  in  her  train  for  pur- 
poses of  traffic. 

The  tzarina  was  met,  at  some  distance  from  Moscow,  by 
the  royal  guard,  and  escorted  to  the  city,  where  she  was  re- 
ceived with  ringing  of  bells,  shoutings,  discharge  of  cannons 
and  all  the  ordinary  and  extraordinary  demonstrations  of  pop- 
ular joy.  On  the  8th  of  May,  the  ceremony  of  blessing  the 
marriage  was  performed  by  the  patriarch,  and  immediately 
after  she  was  crowned  tzarina  with  greater  pomp  than  Russia 
had  ever  witnessed  before.  But  the  appearance  of  this  im- 
mense train  of  armed  Poles  incensed  the  Russians;  and  the 
clergy,  who  were  jealous  of  the  encroachments  of  the  church 
of  Rome,  were  alarmed  in  behalf  of  their  religion.  An  in- 
trepid noble,  Zuski,  now  resolved,  by  the  energies  of  a  popu- 
lar insurrection,  to  rid  the  throne  of  Dmitri.  With  great 
sagacity  and  energy  the  conspiracy  Avas  formed.  The  tzarina 
was  to  give  a  grand  entertainment  on  the  evening  of  the  17th 
of  May,  and  the  conspirators  fixed  upon  that  occasion  for  the 
consummation  of  their  plan.  Twenty  thousand  troops  were 
under  the  orders  of  Zuski,  and  he  had  led  them  all  into  the 
city,  under  the  pretense  of  having  them  assist  in  the  festival. 

At  six  o'clock  in  the  moi-ning  of  the  appointed  day  these 
troops,  accompanied  by  some  thousands  of  the  populace,  sur- 
rounded the  palace  and  seized  its  gates.  A  division  was  then 
sent  in,  who  commenced  the  indiscriminate  massacre  of  all 
who  were,  or  who  looked  like  Polanders.  It  was  taken  for 
gi-anted  that  all  in  the  palace  were  eitlier  Poles  or  their  parti- 
sans. The  alarm  bells  were  now  rung,  and  Zuski  traversed 
the  streets  with  a  drawn  salver  in  one  hand  and  a  cross  in  the 
other,  rousing  the  ignorant  jjopulace  by  the  cry  that  the  Poles 
had  taken  up  arms  to  murder  the  Russians.     Dmitri,  in  his 


STOKHS      OF      HEKEDITARY      SUCCESSION.       283 

chamber,  heavinp:  the  cries  of  the  dying  and  the  shrieks  of 
those  who  fled  before  the  assassins,  leajjed  from  liis  window 
into  the  court  yard,  and,  by  his  fall,  dislocated  liis  thigh.  He 
was  immediately  seized,  conveyed  into  the  grand  hall  of  au- 
dience, and  a  strong  guard  was  set  over  him. 

The  murderers  ransacked  the  palace,  penetrating  every 
room,  killing  every  Polish  man  and  treating  the  Polish  ladies 
with  the  utmost  brutality.  They  inquired  eagerly  for  the 
tzarina,  but  she  was  nowhere  to  be  found.  She  had  concealed 
herself  beneath  the  hoop  of  an  elderly  lady  whose  gray  hairs 
and  withered  cheek  had  preserved  her  from  violence.  Zuski 
now  went  to  the  dowager  tzarina,  the  widow  of  Ivan  IV.,  .and 
demanded  that  she  should  take  her  oath  upon  the  Gospels 
whether  Dmitri  were  her  son.  He  reported  that,  thus  pressed, 
slie  confessed  that  he  was  an  impostor,  and  that  her  true  son 
had  perished  many  years  before.  The  conspirators  now  fell 
upon  Umitri  and  his  body  w.as  pierced  with  a  thousand  dag- 
ger thrusts.  Ilis  mangled  remains  were  then  dragged  through 
the  streets  and  burned.  Mariana  was  soon  after  arrested  and 
sent  to  prison.  It  is  said  that  nearly  two  thousand  Poles 
perislied  in  this  massacre. 

Even  to  the  present  day  opinion  is  divided  in  Russia  in 
regard  to  Dmitri,  whether  he  was  an  impostor  or  the  son  of 
Ivan  IV.  Respecting  his  character  there  is  no  dispute.  All 
that  can  be  said  in  his  favor  is  that  he  would  not  commit  an 
atrocious  crime  unless  impelled  to  it  by  very  strong  tempta- 
tion. There  was  now  no  one  who  seemed  to  have  any  legiti- 
mate title  to  the  throne  of  Russia. 

The  nobles  and  the  senators  who  were  at  Moscow  then 
met  to  proceed  to  the  election  of  a  new  sovereign.  It  W'as  an 
event  almost  without  a  ])aralK'l  in  Russian  history.  The  loi-ds, 
tlioufh  very  friciully  in  their  (U'liheratioiis,  iound  it  diilicult 
to  decide  into  wiiosi;  li.nids  to  iiiti'iist  the  sce[)tei'.  It  was  at 
lust  unanimously  conchided  to  make  an  appeal  to  the  people. 
Their  voice  was  for  Zuski.     He  was  accordingly  declared  tzar 


284  THE     EMPIEE      OP     KTJSSIA. 

and  was  soon  after  crowned  with  a  degree  of  unanimity  which, 
though  well  authenticated,  seems  inexplicable. 

The  Poles  were  exasperated  beyond  measuie  at  the  mas- 
sacre of  so  many  of  their  nobles  and  at  the  insult  oftered  to 
Mariana,  the  tzarina.  But  Poland  was  at  that  time  distracted 
by  civil  strife,  and  the  king  found  it  expedient  to  postpone  the 
hour  of  vengeance.  Zuski  commenced  his  reign  by  adopting 
measures  wliich  gave  him  great  popularity  with  the  adjoining 
kingdoms,  while  they  did  not  diminish  the  favorable  regards 
of  the  people.  But  suddenly  atiairs  assumed  a  new  aspect,  so 
strange  that  a  writer  of  fiction  would  hardly  have  ventured  to 
imagine  it.  An  artful  man,  a  schoolmaster  in  Poland,  who 
could  speak  the  Russian  language,  declared  that  he  was 
Dmitri ;  that  he  had  escaped  from  the  massacre  in  his  palace, 
and  that  it  was  another  man,  mistaken  for  him,  whom  the 
assassins  had  killed.  Poland,  inspired  by  revenge,  eagerly 
embraced  this  man's  cause.  Mariana,  who  had  been  liberated 
from  prison,  was  let  into  the  secret,  and  willing  to  ascend 
again  to  the  grandeur  from  which  she  had  fallen,  entei'ed  with 
cordial  cooperation  into  this  new  intrigue.  The  widowed 
tzarina  and  the  Polish  adventurer  contrived  their  first  meet- 
ing in  the  presence  of  a  large  concourse  of  nobles  and  citizens. 
They  rushed  together  in  a  warm  embrace,  while  tears  of 
affected  transport  bedewed  their  cheeks.  The  farce  was  so 
admirably  performed  that  many  were  deceived,  and  this  new 
Dmitri  and  the  tzarina  occupied  for  several  days  the  same 
tent  in  the  Polish  encampment,  apparently  as  husband  and 
wife. 


CHAPTER    XVII. 

A    CHANGE     OP    DYNASTY. 

From  1608  to  1G80. 

Conquests  by  Poland.— Swedkn  in  Alliance  wiTir  Russia. — Grandeur  of  Poland. 
— Ladislaus  Elected  King  of  Kussia. — Commotions  and  Insurrections. — Rejec- 
tion OF  Ladislais  and  Election  of  Michael  Feodor  Uomanow. — Sorrow  of 
His  Mother. — Pacific  Character  of  Romanow. — Choice  of  a  Bride. — Eudochia 
Streschnew. — The  Archbishop  Feodor. — Death  of  Michael  and  Accession  of 
Alexis. — Lote  in  the  Palace. — Successful  Intrigue. — Mobs  in  Moscow. — 
Change  in  the  Character  of  the  Tzar. — Turkish  Invasions. — Alliance  Be- 
tween Russia  and  Poland. 

n^HIS  public  testimonial  of  conjugal  love  led  men,  who  had 
-L  before  doubted  the  pretender,  to  repose  confidence  in  his 
claims.  The  King  of  Poland  took  advantage  of  the  confusion 
row  reigning  in  Russia  to  extend  his  dominions  by  wresting 
still  more  border  territory  from  his  great  rival.  In  tliis  exi- 
gence, Zuski  purchased  the  loan  of  an  army  of  live  thousand 
men  from  Sweden  by  surrendering  Livonia  to  the  Swedes. 
With  these  succors  united  to  his  own  troops,  he  marched  to 
meet  the  pretended  Dmitri.  There  was  now  universal  con- 
fusion in  Russia.  The  two  liostile  armies,  avoiding  a  decisive 
engagement,  were  maneuvering  and  engaging  in  incessant 
petty  skirmishes,  which  resulted  only  in  blocMlslied  and  mis- 
ery. Thus  five  years  of  national  woe  lingered  away.  Tlie 
people  became  weary  of  botii  the  claimants  for  tlie  crown,  and 
the  nobles  boldly  met,  regardless  of  the  rival  combatants,  and 
resolved  to  choose  a  new  sovereign. 

Poland  had  then  attained  the  summit  of  its  greatness. 
As  an  energetic  military  power,  it  was  superior  to  Russia. 
To  conciliate  Poland,  whose  aggressions  were  greatly  feared, 
the  Russian  nobles  chose,  for  their  sovereign,  Ladislaus,  son 


286  THE     E  JI  P  I  K  E      OF      RUSSIA. 

of  SigismoncI,  the  King  of  Poland.  Thej^  hoped  tliiis  to  with- 
draw the  Polish  armies  from  tlie  banners  of  the  pretended 
Dmitri,  and  also  to  secure  peace  for  their  war-blasted  king- 
dom. 

Ladislaus  accepted  the  crown.  Znski  was  seized,  deposed, 
shaved,  dressed  in  a  friar's  robe  and  shut  up  in  a  convent  to 
count  his  beads.  He  soon  died  of  that  malignant  poison, 
grief.  Dmitri  made  a  show  of  oj^position,  but  lie  was  soon 
assassinated  by  his  own  men,  who  were  convinced  of  the 
hopelessness  of  his  cause.  His  party,  however,  lasted  for 
many  yeai-s,  bringing  forward  a  young  man  who  was  called 
his  son.  At  one  time  there  was  quite  an  enthusiasm  in  his 
fivor,  crowds  flocked  to  his  camp,  and  he  even  sent  embassa- 
dors to  Gustavus  IX.,  King  of  Sweden,  proposing  an  alliance. 
At  last  he  was  betrayed  by  some  of  his  own  party,  and  was 
sent  to  Moscow,  where  he  was  hanged. 

Sigismond  was  much  perplexed  in  deciding  whether  to 
consent  to  his  son's  accepting  the  crown  of  Russia.  That 
kingdom  was  now  in  such  a  state  of  confusion  and  weakness 
that  he  was  quite  sanguine  that  he  would  be  able  to  conquer 
it  by  force  of  arms  and  bring  the  whole  empii'e  under  the 
dominion  of  his  own  scepter.  His  armies  were  already  be- 
sieging Smolensk,  and  the  city  was  hourly  expected  to  fall 
into  their  hands.  This  would  open  to  them  almost  an  unob- 
structed march  to  Moscow\  The  Poles,  generally  warlike 
and  ambitious  of  conquest,  represented  to  Sigismond  that  it 
would  be  far  more  glorious  for  him  to  be  the  conqueror  of 
Russia  than  to  be  merely  the  father  of  its  tzar. 

Sigismond,  with  trivial  excuses,  detained  his  son  in  Poland, 
while,  under  various  pretexts,  he  continued  to  pour  his  troops 
into  Russia.  Ten  thousand  armed  Poles  were  sent  to  Moscow 
to  be  in  readiness  to  receive  the  newly-elected  monarch  upon 
his  arrival.  Their  general,  Stanislaus,  artfully  contrived  even 
to  place  a  thousand  of  these  Polish  troops  in  garrison  in  the 
citadel  of  Moscow.     These  foreign  soldiers  at  last  became  so 


A      CUANGE     OF      DYNASTY.  287 

insolent  that  tliere  was  a  general  rising  of  the  populace,  and 
they  were  threatened  with  utter  extermination.  The  stornx 
of  passion  thus  raised,  no  earthly  power  could  quell.  The 
awful  slaughter  was  coninionced,  and  the  Poles,  conscious  of 
their  danger,  resorted  to  the  horrible  but  only  measure  which 
could  save  them  from  destruction.  Tiiey  immediately  set 
lire  to  tlie  city  in  many  different  places.  The  city  then  con- 
sisted of  one  hundred  and  eiglity  thousand  houses,  most  of 
them  being  of  wood.  As  the  tiames  rose,  sweeping  from  house 
to  house  and  from  street  to  street,  the  inhabitants,  distracted 
by  the  endeavor  to  save  their  wives,  their  children  and  their 
property,  threw  down  their  arms  and  dis^jersed.  When  thus 
helpless,  the  Poles  fell  upon  them,  and  one  of  the  most  awful 
massacres  ensued  of  which  history  gives  any  record.  A  hun- 
dred thousand  of  the  wretched  j^eople  of  Moscow  perished 
beneath  the  Polish  cimeters.  For  fifteen  days  the  depopu- 
lated and  smouldering  capital  was  surrendered  to  pillage. 
The  royal  treasury,  the  churches,  the  convents  were  all 
plundered.  The  Poles,  then,  laden  with  booty,  but  leaving  a 
garrison  in  the  citadel,  evacuated  the  ruined  city  and  com- 
menced their  march  to  Poland. 

These  horrors  roused  the  Russians.  An  army  under  a 
heroic  general,  Zachary  Lippenow,  besieged  the  Polish  garri- 
son, starved  them  into  a  surrender,  and  put  them  all  to  death. 
The  nobles  then  met,  declared  the  election  of  Ladislaus  void, 
on  account  of  his  not  coming  to  Moscow  to  accept  it,  and 
again  proceeded  to  the  choice  of  a  sovereign.  After  long 
deliberatio!),  one  man  ventured  to  pro])ose  a  candidate  very 
different  from  any  who  had  before  been  thought  of.  It  was 
Michael  Feodor  Komanow.  He  was  a  studious,  ]jhilosophic 
yoimg  man,  seventeen  years  of  age.  Ilis  father  was  arch- 
bishop of  Rostovv,  a  man  of  e.\;ilted  reputation,  both  for 
genius  and  piety.  Michael,  \\\\\\  his  mother,  was  in  a  con- 
vent at  Castroma.  It  was  modestly  urged  that  in  this  young 
man  there  were  centered  all  the  qualidcations  essential  for  the 


288  THE     EMl'lliE      OF     BUSSIA, 

promotion  of  the  tranquillity  of  the  State.  There  were  but 
three  males  of  his  family  living,  and  thus  the  State  would 
avoid  the  evil  of  having  numerous  relatives  of  the  prince  to 
be  cared  for.  He  was  entirely  free  from  embroilments  in  the 
late  troubles.  As  his  father  was  a  clergyman  of  known  piety 
and  virtue,  he  would  counsel  his  son  to  peace,  and  would  con- 
scientiously seek  the  best  good  of  the  empire. 

The  proposition,  sustained  by  such  views,  was  accepted 
with  general  acclaim.  Tliere  were  several  nobles  from  Cas- 
troma  who  testified  that  though  they  were  not  personally 
acquainted  with  young  Romanow,  they  believed  him  to  be  a 
youth  of  unusual  intelligence,  discretion  and  moral  worth. 
As  the  nobles  were  anxious  not  to  act  hastily  in  a  matter  of 
such  great  importance,  they  dispatched  two  of  their  number 
to  Castroma  with  a  letter  to  the  mother  of  Michael,  urging 
her  to  repair  immediately  with  her  son  to  Moscow. 

The  affectionate,  judicious  mother,  upon  the  reception  of 
this  letter,  burst  into  tears  of  anguish,  lamenting  the  calamity 
which  was  impending. 

"  My  son,"  she  said,  "  my  only  son  is  to  be  taken  from 
me  to  be  placed  upon  the  throne,  only  to  be  miserably 
slaughtered  like  so  many  of  the  tzars  who  have  preceded 
him." 

She  wrote  to  the  electors  entreating  them  that  her  son 
might  be  excused,  saying  that  he  was  altogether  too  young  to 
reign,  that  his  father  was  a  prisoner  in  Poland,  and  that  her 
son  had  no  relations  capable  of  assisting  him  with  their  advice. 
This  letter,  on  the  whole,  did  but  confirm  the  assembly  of 
nobles  in  their  conviction  that  they  could  not  make  a  better 
choice  than  that  of  the  young  Romanow.  Tliey  accordingly, 
with  great  unanimity,  elected  Michael  Feodor  Romanow, 
sovereign  of  all  the  Russias ;  then,  repairing  in  a  body  to  the 
cathedral,  they  proclaimed  him  to  the  people  as  their  sover- 
eign. The  announcement  was  received  with  rapturous  ap- 
plause.    It  was  thus  that  the  house  of  Romanow  was  placed 


A      CHANGE      OF     DYNASTY.  289 

upon  the  throne  of  Russia.     It  retains  the  throne  to  the  pres- 
ent day. 

Michael,  incited  by  singular  sagacity  and  by  true  Christian 
philanthropy,  commenced  his  reign  by  the  most  efficient  mea- 
sures to  secure  the  peace  of  the  empire.  As  soon  as  he  had 
notitied  his  election  to  the  King  of  Poland,  his  father,  arch- 
bishop of  Rostow,  was  set  at  liberty  and  sent  home.  He  was 
immediately  created  by  his  son  patriarch  of  all  Russia,  an 
office  in  the  Greek  churcli  almost  equivalent  to  that  of  the 
pope  m  the  Romish  liierarchy.  While  these  scenes  were 
transpiring,  Ciiarles  IX.  died,  and  Gustavus  Adolphus  suc- 
ceeded to  the  throne  of  Sweden.  Gustavus  and  Michael  both 
desired  peace,  the  preliminaries  were  soon  settled,  and  peace 
was  established  upon  a  basis  far  more  advantageous  to  the 
Swedes  than  to  the  Russians.  By  this  treaty,  Russia  ceded 
to  Sweden  territory,  which  deprived  Russia  of  all  access  to 
the  Baltic  Sea.  Tlius  the  only  point  now  upon  which  Russia 
touched  the  ocean,  was  on  the  North  Sea.  No  enemies  re- 
mained to  Russia  but  the  Poles.  Here  there  was  trouble 
enough.  Ladislaus  still  demanded  the  throne,  and  invaded 
the  empire  with  an  immense  army.  He  advanced,  ravaging 
the  country,  even  to  the  gates  of  Moscow.  But,  finding  that 
lie  had  no  partisans  in  the  kingdom,  and  that  powerfid  armies 
were  combining  against  him,  he  consented  to  a  truce  for  four- 
teen years. 

Russia  was  now  at  peace  with  all  tlie  world.  The  yomig 
tzar,  aided  by  the  counsels  of  his  excellent  father,  devoted 
himself  with  unliring  energy  to  the  promotion  of  the  pros- 
perity of  his  subjects.  It  was  deemed  a  matter  of  nuich 
political  impoitance  that  the  tzar  should  be  immediately  mar- 
ried. According  to  the  custom  of  the  enij)ire,  all  the  most 
beautiful  girls  were  collected  for  the  monarch  to  make  liis 
choice.  They  were  received  in  the  palace,  and  were  lodged 
separately  though  they  all  dined  together.  The  tzar  s;nv 
them,  either  incognito  or  without  disguise,  as  suited   his  |il(:i- 

13 


29D  THE     EMTIKE      OF     RUSSIA. 

sure.  The  day  for  the  nuptials  was  appointed,  and  the  bridal 
robes  prepared  when  no  one  knew  upon  whom  the  monarch's 
choice  had  b«en  tixed.  On  the  morning  of  the  nuptial  day  the 
robes  were  presented  to  the  empress  elect,  who  then,  for  the 
first  time,  learned  that  she  had  proved  the  successful  canr 
didate.  The  rejected  maidens  were  returned  to  their  homes 
laden  with  rich  presents. 

The  young  lady  selected,  was  Eudocia  Streschnew,  who 
chanced  to  be  the  daughter  of  a  very  worthy  gentleman,  in 
quite  straitened  circumstances,  residing  nearly  two  hundred 
miles  from  Moscow.  The  messenger  who  was  sent  to  inform 
hiui  that  his  daughter  was  Empress  of  Russia,  found  him  in 
the  field  at  work  with  his  domestics.  The  good  old  man  was 
conducted  to  Moscow  ;  but  he  soon  grew  weary  of  the  splen- 
dors of  the  cduit,  and  entreated  peruiission  to  return  again  to 
his  humble  rui'al  home.  Eudocia,  reared  in  virtuous  retire- 
ment, proved  as  lovely  in  character  as  she  was  beautiful  in 
perison,  and  she  soon  won  the  love  of  the  nation.  The  first 
year  of  her  marriage,  she  gave  birth  to  a  daughter.  The 
three  next  children  proved  also  daughters,  to  the  great  dis- 
appointment of  tlieii'  parents.  But  in  the  year  1630,  a  son 
was  born,  and  not  only  the  court,  but  all  Russia,  was  tilled 
with  rejoiciug.  In  the  year  16.'>4,  the  tzar  met  with  one  of 
the  greatest  of  afiiictions  in  the  loss  of  his  father  by  death. 
His  reverence  for  the  venerable  patriarch  Feodor,  had  been 
such  that  lie  was  ever  his  principal  counselor,  and  all  his 
|)ublic  acts  wei-e  proclaimed  in  the  name  of  the  tzar  and  his 
majesty's  father,  the  most  holy  patriarch. 

"As  he  had  joined,"  writes  an  ancient  historian,  "the 
m!ter  to  the  sword,  having  been  a  general  in  the  army  before 
he  vvas  an  ecclesiastic,  the  affable  and  modest  behaviour,  so 
becoming  the  ministers  of  the  altar,  had  tempered  and  cor- 
rected the  fire  of  the  warrior,  and  rendered  his  manners 
amiable  to  all  that  came  near  him." 

The  reign  of  Michael   proved  almost  a  constant  success. 


A      CHANGE      OF      DYNASTY.  291 

His  wisdom  and  probity  caused  liiin  to  be  respected  by  the 
iieigliboring  States,  while  the  empire,  in  the  enjoyment  of 
peace,  was  lapidly  devek)ping  all  its  resources,  and  increasing 
in  wealth,  population  and  power.  His  court  was  constantly 
filled  with  embassadors  from  all  the  monaichies  of  Europe  and 
even  of  Asia.  The  tzar,  rightly  considering  peace  as  almost 
the  choicest  of  all  earthly  blessings,  resisted  all  temptations  to 
draw  the  sword.  There  were  a  i'ew  trivial  iiiterru})tions  of 
peace  during  his  reign ;  but  the  dark  clouds  of  war,  by  his 
energies,  were  soon  dispelled.  This  pacific  prince,  one  of  the 
most  worthy  who  ever  sat  upon  any  throne,  died  revered  by 
his  subjects  on  the  12th  of  July,  1645,  in  the  forty-ninth  year 
of  his  age  and  the  thirty-third  of  his  reign.  He  left  but  two 
children — a  son,  Alexis,  who  succeeded  him,  and  a  daughter, 
Irene,  who  a  few  years  after  died  unmarried. 

Alexis  was  but  sixteen  years  of  age  when  he  succeeded  to 
the  throne.  To  prevent  the  possibility  of  any  cabals  being 
formed,  in  consequence  of  his  youth,  he  was  crowned  the  day 
after  his  father's  death.  In  one  week  from  that  time  Eudocia 
also  died,  her  death  being  hastened  by  grief  for  the  loss  of  her 
husband.  An  ambitious  noble,  Moroson,  supremely  selfish, 
but  cool,  calculating  and  persevering,  attained  the  post  of 
prime  minister  or  counselor  of  the  young  tzar.  The  great 
object  of  his  aim  was  to  make  himself  the  first  subject  in  the 
empire.  In  the  accomplishment  of  this  object  there  were  two 
leading  measures  to  which  he  I'esorted.  The  first  was  to  keep 
the  young  tzar  as  much  as  possible  from  taking  any  part  in 
the  transaetionj  of  state,  by  involving  him  in  an  incessant 
round  of  pleasures.  The  next  step  was  to  secure  for  the  tzar 
a  wife  who  would  be  under  his  own  iulluence.  The  love  of 
jilcasure  incident  to  youth  rendered  the  first  measure  not 
difficult  of  accomplishment.  Peculiar  circumstances  seemed 
remarkably  to  favor  the  second  measure.  There  was  a  noble- 
man of  high  rank  but  of  small  fortune,  strongly  attaciied 
to  Moroson,  who  had  two  daughters  of  marvelous  beauty. 


292  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

Morosoii  doubted  not  that  he  could  lead  his  ardent  young 
monarch  to  marry  one  of  these  lovely  sisters,  and  he  re- 
solved himself  to  marry  the  other.  He  would  thus  become 
tlie  brother-in-law  of  the  emperor.  Through  his  wife  he 
Avould  be  able  to  influence  her  sister,  the  empress.  The  fam- 
ily ■wuuld  also  all  feel  that  they  were  indebted  to  him  for  their 
elevation.     The  plan  was  triunipliantly  successful. 

The  two  young  ladies  were  invited  to  court,  and  were  dec- 
orated to  make  the  most  impressive  display  of  their  loveli- 
ness. "With  the  young  'tzar,  a  boy  of  sixteen,  it  was  love  at 
first  sight,  and  that  very  day  he  told  Moroson  that  he  wished 
to  marry  Maria,  the  eldest  of  the  beauties.  Rich  presents 
were  iuimediately  lavished  upon  the  whole  lamily,  so  that 
they  could  make  their  appearance  at  court  with  suitable 
splendor.  The  tzar  and  Maria  were  iuunediately  betrothed, 
and  in  just  eight  days  the  ardent  lover  led  his  bride  t'lonx  the 
altar.  At  the  end  of  another  week  Moros  n  married  the 
other  sister.  Moroson  and  Miloslouski,  the  father  of  the  two 
brides,  now  ruled  Russia,  while  the  tzar  surrendered  himself 
to  amusements. 

The  people  soon  became  exasperated  by  the  haughtiness 
and  insolence  of  the  duumvirate,  and  murmurs  gi'owing  deep- 
er and  louder,  ere  long  led  to  an  insurrection.  On  the  0th  of 
July,  1648,  the  tzar,  engaged  in  some  civic  celebration,  was 
escorted  in  a  procession  to  one  of  the  monasteries  of  Moscow. 
The  populace  assembled  in  immense  numbers  to  see  him  pass. 
On  his  return  the  crowd  broke  through  the  attendant  guards, 
seized  the  bridle  of  his  horse,  and  entreated  him  to  listen  to 
their  complaints  concerning  the  outrages  perpetrated  by  his 
ministers.  The  tzar,  much  alarmed  by  their  violence,  listened 
impatiently  to  their  complaints  and  promised  to  render  theni 
satisfaction.  The  people  were  appeased,  and  were  quietly 
retiring  when  the  partisans  of  the  ministers  rode  among  them, 
assailing  them  with  abusive  language,  crowding  them  with 
their   horses,   and    even   striking    at   them   with   their    wliips. 


A      CHANGE     or     DYNASTY.  293 

The  populace,  incensed,  began  to  pelt  them  mth  stones,  and 
though  the  guard  ot"  the  tzar  came  to  their  rescue,  they 
escaped  Avith  dithculty  to  the  palace.  The  mob  was  now 
tliorougldy  aroused.  They  rushed  to  the  palace  of  Moroson, 
burst  down  tlie  doors,  and  sacked  every  apartment.  They 
even  tore  from  the  person  of  his  wife  her  jewels,  throwing 
them  into  the  street,  but  in  other  respects  treating  her  with 
civility.  They  then  passed  to  the  palace  of  Miloslauski,  treat- 
ing it  in  the  same  manner.  The  mob  had  now  possession  of 
Moscow.  Palace  after  palace  of  the  partisans  of  the  ministers 
was  sacked,  and  several  of  the  most  distinguished  members 
of  the  court  were  massacred. 

The  tzar,  entirely  delicient  in  energy,  remained  trembling 
in  the  Kremlin  duiing  the  whole  of  the  night  of  the  Gth  of 
July,  only  entreatijig  his  friends  to  strengthen  the  gnai-ds 
and  to  secure  the  palace  from  the  oiitrages  of  the  populace. 
Afraid  to  trust  the  Russian  troops,  who  might  be  found  in 
sympathy  with  the  people,  Alexis  sent  for  a  regiment  of  Ger- 
man troops  who  wei'e  in  his  employ,  and  stationed  them 
around  the  palace.  He  then  sent  out  an  offictn-  to  disperse 
the  crowd,  assuring  them  that  the  disorders  of  which  they 
complained  should  be  redressed.  They  demanded  that  the 
offending  ministers  should  be  delivered  to  them,  to  be  pun- 
ished for  the  injuries  they  had  inflicted  upon  the  empire. 
Alexis  assured  them,  through  his  messenger,  upon  his  oath, 
that  Moroson  and  Miloslauski  had  escaped,  but  i)romised  that 
the  third  minister  whom  they  demanded,  a  noble  by  the  name 
of  Plesseon,  who  was  judge  of  the  supreme  court  of  judica- 
ture of  Moscow,  should  be  brought  out  directly,  and  that 
those  who  had  escaped  should  be  delivered  up  as  soon  as  they 
could  be  ai'rested.  The  guilty,  wretched  man,  thus  doomed 
to  be  the  victim  to  appease;  the  rage  of  the  mob,  in  a  quarter 
of  an  hour  was  led  out  bareheaded  by  the  servants  of  the 
tzar  to  the  market-place.  The  mob  fell  u2:>on  him  with  (;lubs, 
beat  him  to  the  earth,  dragged  him  over  the  pavements,  and 


294  THE     EiNIPIKE      OF      RUSSIA. 

finally  cut  off  bis  bead.     Thus  satiated,  about  eleven  o'clock 
in  the  morning  they  dispersed  and  leturned  to  their  homes. 

In  the  afternoon,  however,  the  reign  of  violence  was  re- 
sumed. The  city  was  set  on  fire  in  several  places,  and  the 
mob  collected  for  plunder,  making  no  effort  to  extinguish  the 
flames.  The  fire  spread  with  such  alarming  i-apidity  that  the 
whole  city  was  endangered.  At  length,  however,  after  ter- 
rible destruction  of  property  and  the  loss  of  many  lives,  the 
fury  of  the  conflagration  was  arrested.  The  affrighted  tzar 
now  filled  the  important  posts  of  the  ministry  with  men  who 
bad  a  reputation  for  justice,  and  the  clergy  immediately  es- 
pousing the  cause  of  order,  exhorted  the  populace  to  that 
respect  and  obedience  to  the  higher  powers  which  their  re- 
ligion enjoined.  Alexis  personally  appeared  before  the  peo 
pie  and  addressed  them  in  a  speech,  in  which  he  made  no 
apology  for  the  outrages  which  had  been  committed  by  the 
government,  but,  assuming  that  the  people  were  right  in  their 
demands,  promised  to  repeal  the  onerous  duties,  to  abolish 
the  obnoxious  monopolies,  and  even  to  increase  the  privileges 
which  they  had  formei'ly  enjo'.ed.  The  people  received  this 
announcement  with  great  applause.  The  tzar,  taking  advan- 
tage of  this  return  to  friendliness,  remarked, 

"  I  have  promised  to  deliver  up  to  you  Moroson  and  his 
confederates  in  the  government.  Their  acts  I  admit  to  have 
been  very  unjust,  but  their  personal  relations  to  me  renders 
it  peculiarly  trying  for  me  to  condemn  them.  I  hope  the 
people  will  not  deny  the  first  request  I  have  ever  made  to 
them,  which  is,  that  these  men,  whom  I  have  displaced,  may 
be  pardoned.  I  will  answer  for  them  for  the  future,  and  as- 
sure you  that  their  conduct  shall  be  such  as  to  give  you  cause 
to  rejoice  at  your  lenity." 

The  peoi)le  were  so  moved  by  this  address,  which  the  tzar 
pronounced  with  tears,  that,  as  with  one  accord,  they  shouted, 
"  God  grant  his  majesty  a  long  and  happy  life.  The  will  of 
God  and  of  the  tzar  be  done."     Peace  was  thus  restored  be- 


A      CHANGK      OF     DYXASTY.  295 

tween  the  government  and  the  people,  and  great  good  ac- 
crued to  Russia  from  this  successful  insurrection. 

During  the  early  reign  of  Alexis,  there  were  no  foreign 
wars  of  any  note.  The  Poles  were  all  the  time  busy  in  en- 
deavors to  beat  back  the  Turks,  who,  in  wave  after  wave  of 
invnsion,  were  crossing  the  Danube.  Upon  tlie  death  of  Lad- 
islaus,  King  of  Poland,  Alexis,  who  had  then  a  fine  army  at 
his  command,  offered  to  march  to  repel  the  Turks,  if  the 
Poles  would  choose  him  King  of  Poland,  But  at  the  same 
time  France  made  a  still  more  alluring  offer,  in  case  they 
would  choose  John  Casimir,  a  prince  in  the  interests  of  France, 
as  their  sovereign.  Tiie  choice  fell  upon  John  Casimir.  The 
provinces  of  Smolensk,  Kiof  and  Tchei-nigov  were  then  in 
possession  of  the  Poles,  having  been,  in  former  wars,  wrested 
from  Russia.  The  Poles  had  conquered  them  by  taking  ad- 
vantage of  internal  troubles  in  Russia,  which  enabled  them 
with  success  to  invade  the  empire. 

Alexis  now  thought  it  right,  in  liis  turn,  to  take  advantnge 
of  the  weakness  of  Poland,  harassed  by  the  Turks,  to  recover 
these  lost  provinces.  He  accordingly  marched  to  the  city  of 
Smolensk,  and  encamped  before  it  wnth  an  army  of  three 
hundred  thousand  men.  Smolensk  was  one  of  the  strongest 
places  which  military  art  had  then  been  able  to  rear.  The 
Poles  had  received  sufficient  warning  of  the  attack  to  enable 
them  to  garrison  the  foiliiications  to  their  utmost  capacity 
and  to  supply  the  town  abundantly  with  all  the  materials  of 
war.  The  siege  was  continued  for  a  fidl  year,  with  all  the 
usual  accotni)animents  of  carnage  an<l  misery  which  attend  a 
beleaguered  f  )rtress.  At  last  the  city,  battered  into  i-uins,  sur- 
rendered, and  the  victorious  Russians  immediately  swept  ovei' 
Lithuanian  Poland,  mcc'ting  no  force  to  obstruct  its  march. 
Another  army,  equally  resistless,  swept  tht^  banks  of  the  Dnie- 
per, and  lecovei-ed  Tchernigov  and  Kiof 

Misfortunes  seemed  now  to  be  falling  like  an  avalanche 
upon  Poland.     While  the  Turks  were  assailing  them  on  the 


296  THE     EMPIRE     OF      RUSSIA. 

soi;th,  and  the  Russians  were  wresting  from  them  opulent  and 
p0[)ulous  provinces  on  the  north,  Charles  Gustavus  of  Sweden, 
was  crossing  her  eastei'n  frontiers  with  invading  hosts.  The 
im^Jctuous  Swedish  king,  in  thi-ee  months,  overran  nearly  the 
whole  of  Poland,  threatening  the  utter  extinction  of  the  king- 
dom. This  alarmed  the  surrounding  kingdoms,  lest  Sweden 
should  become  too  powerful  for  their  safety.  Alexis  im- 
mediately entered  into  a  truce  with  Poland,  which  guaran- 
teed to  him  the  peaceable  possession  of  the  provinces  he  had 
regained,  and  then  united  his  armies  with  those  of  his  humili- 
ated rival,  to  arrest  the  strides  of  the  Swedish  conqueror. 

Sieges,  cannonades  and  battles  innumerable  ensued,  over 
hundreds  of  leagues  of  territory,  bordering  the  shores  of  the 
Baltic.  For  several  years  the  maddened  strife  continued, 
producing  its  usual  fruits  of  gory  fields,  smouldering  cities, 
desolated  homes,  with  orphanage,  widowhood,  starvation, 
pestilence,  and  every  conceivable  form  of  human  misery.  At 
length,  all  parties  being  exhausted,  peace  was  concluded  on 
the  2d  of  June,  16G1. 

The  great  insurrection  in  Moscow  had  taught  the  tzar 
Alexis  a  good  lesson,  and  he  profited  by  it  wisely.  lie  was 
led  to  devote  himself  earnestly  to  the  wc-ltare  of  his  people. 
His  recovery  of  the  lost  provinces  of  Russia  was  considered 
just,  and  added  immeasurably  to  his  renown.  Conscious  of 
the  imperfection  of  his  education,  he  engaged  earnestly  in 
study,  causing  many  important  scientific  treatise>  to  be  trans- 
lated into  the  Russian  language,  and  perusing  them  with  dili- 
gence and  delight.  Tie  had  the  laws  of  the  several  provinces 
collected  and  ])ublished  together.  Many  new  manufactures 
were  introduced,  particularly  those  (f  silk  and  linen.  Though 
rigidly  economical  in  his  expenses,  he  maintained  a  magnifi- 
cent court  and  a  numerous  army.  He  took  great  interest  in 
the  promotion  of  agriculture,  bringing  many  desert  wastes 
into  cultivation,  and  peopling  them  with  the  prisoners  taken 
in  the  Polish  and  Swedish  wars.     It  was  the  custom  hi  those 


A      CHANGE      OF      DYNASTY.  297 

barbaric  times  to  drive,  as  captives  of  war,  the  men,  women 
and  children  of  whole  provinces,  to  be  slaves  in  the  territory 
of  the  conqueror.  Often  they  occupied  the  position  of  a  vas- 
sal peasantry,  tilling  the  soil  for  the  benefit  of  their  lords. 
With  singular  foresight,  Alexis  planned  for  the  construction 
of  a  fleet  both  on  the  Caspian  and  the  Black  Sea.  With  this 
object  in  view,  lie  sent  for  ship  carpenters  from  Holland  and 
other  plact^s. 

All  Europe  was  now  trembling  in  view  of  the  encroach- 
ments of  the  Turks.  Several  very  angry  messages  had  passed 
between  the  sultan  and  the  tzar,  and  the  Turks  had  jjroved 
themselves  ever  eager  to  combine  with  the  Tartars  in  bloody 
raids  into  the  southern  regions  of  the  empire.  Alexis  resolved 
to  combine  Christian  Europe,  if  possible,  in  a  war  of  extermi- 
nation against  the  Turks.  To  this  end  he  sent  embassadors 
to  every  court  in  Christendom.  As  his  embassador  was  pre- 
sented to  Pope  Clement  X.,  the  pope  extended  his  foot  for 
the  customary  kiss.  The  proud  Russian  drew  back,  exclaim- 
ing, 

"  So  ignoble  an  act  of  homage  is  beneath  the  dignity  of 

the  prince  whom  I  have  the  honor  to  serve." 

He  then  informed  the  pope  that  the  Emperor  of  Russia 
had  resolved  to  make  war  against  the  Turks,  that  he  wished 
to  see  all  Christian  princes  unite  against  those  enemies  of 
humanity  and  religion,  that  for  that  purpose  he  had  sent 
embassadors  to  all  the  potentates  of  Europe,  and  that  he 
exhorted  his  holiness  to  place  himself  at  the  head  of  a  league 
so  powerful,  so  necessary  for  the  protection  of  the  church,  and 
from  which  every  Christian  State  might  derive  the  greatest 
advantages.  Foolish  punctilios  of  etiquette  interfered  with 
any  efiicient  arrangements  with  the  court  of  Rome,  and 
though  the  embassadors  of  other  powers  were  received  with 
the  most  marked  respect,  these  powers  were  all  too  iiiucli 
engrossed  with  their  own  internal  afl'airs  to  enlist  in  this  enter- 
prise for  the  public  good.    The  Turks  were,  however,  alarmed 

13* 


298  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSI^. 

Ijy  these  formidable  movements,  ami,  fearing  such  an  alliance, 
were  somewhat  checked  in  their  career  of  conquest. 

On  the  10th  of  November,  1074,  the  King  of  Poland  died, 
and  again  there  was  an  attempt  on  the  part  of  Russia  to  unite 
Poland  and  the  empire  under  the  same  crown.  All  the  mon- 
arcliies  in  Eurojje  were  involved  in  intrigues  for  the  Polish 
crown.  Tlie  electors,  however,  chose  John  Sobieski,  a  re- 
nowned Polish  general,  for  their  sovereign.  The  tzar  was 
very  apprehensive  that  the  Poles  would  make  peace  with  the 
Turks,  and  thus  leave  the  sultan  at  liberty  to  concentrate  all 
his  tremendous  resources  u})on  Russia.  Alexis  raised  three 
large  armies,  amounting  in  all  to  one  hundred  and  fifty  thou- 
sand men,  which  he  sent  into  the  Ukraine,  as  the  frontier 
country,  watered  by  the  lower  Dnieper,  was  then  called. 

The  Turkish  army,  which  was  spread  over  the  country 
between  the  Danube  and  the  Dniester,  now  crossed  this  latter 
stream,  and,  in  solid  battalions,  four  hundred  thousand  strong, 
penetrated  the  Ukraine.  They  immediately  commenced  the 
fiend-like  work  of  reducing  the  whole  province  to  a  desert. 
The  process  of  destruction  is  swift.  Flames,  in  a  few  hours, 
will  consume  a  city  which  centuries  alone  have  reared.  A 
squadron  of  cavalry  will,  in  a  few  moments,  trample  fields 
of  grain  which  have  been  slowly  growing  and  ripening  for 
months.  In  less  than  a  fortnight  nearly  the  whole  of  the 
Ukraine  was  a  depopulated  waste,  the  troops  of  the  tzar  being 
shut  lip  in  narrow  fortresses.  The  King  of  Poland,  apprehen- 
sive lliat  this  vast  Turkish  army  would  soon  turn  with  all 
their  energies  of  destruction  upon  his  own  territories,  resolved 
to  march,  with  all  the  forces  of  his  kingdom,  to  the  aid  of  the 
Russians.  One  hundred  thousand  Polish  troops  immediately 
besieged  the  great  city  of  Human,  which  the  Turks  had 
taken,  midway  between  the  Dnieper  and  the  Dniester. 

John  Sobieski,  the  newly-elected  King  of  Poland,  w:is  a 
veteran  soldier  of  great  military  renown.  He  placed  himself  at 
the  head  of  other  divisions  of  the  army,  and  endeavored  to 


A     CHANGE      OF      DYNASTY.  299 

distract  the  enemy  and  to  divide  tlu'ii-  forces.  At  the  same 
time,  Alexis  himself  hastened  to  the  theater  of  war  that  he 
might  animate  his  troops  by  his  presence.  The  Turks,  find- 
ing themselves  unable  to  advance  any  further,  sullenly  re- 
turned to  their  own  country  by  the  way  of  the  Dannbe. 
Upon  the  retirement  of  the  Turks,  the  Russians  and  the  Poles 
began  to  quarrel  respecting  the  p)Ossession  of  the  Ukraine. 
Aifairs  were  in  this  condition  when  the  tzar  Alexis,  in  all  the 
vigor  of  manhood,  was  taken  sick  and  died.  He  was  then  in 
the  forty-sixth  year  of  his  age.  His  first  wife,  Maria  Milos- 
louski,  had  died  several  years  before  him,  leaving  two  sons 
and  four  danghters.  His  second  wife,  Natalia  Nariskin,  to 
Avhom  he  was  married  in  the  year  1671,  still  lived  with  her 
two  children,  a  son,  Petei",  who  was  subsequently  entitled 
the  Great,  as  being  the  most  illustrious  monarch  Russia  has 
known,  and  a  daughter  Natalia. 

Alexis,  notwithstanding  the  unpropitious  promise  of  his 
youth,  proved  one  of  the  wisest  and  best  princes  Russia  had 
known  for  years.  He  was  a  lover  of  peace,  and  yet  prosecuted 
war  with  energy  when  it  was  forced  upon  him.  His  oldest 
surviving  son,  Feodor,  who  was  but  eighteen  years  of  nge  at 
the  time  of  his  father's  death,  succeeded  to  the  crown.  Feodor, 
following  the- counsel  which  his  father  gave  him  on  his  dying 
bed,  soon  took  military  possession  of  nearly  all  of  the  Ukraine. 
The  Turks  entered  the  country  again,  but  were  repulsed  with 
severe  loss.  Apprehensive  that  they  would  speedily  return, 
the  tzar  made  great  efforts  to  secure  a  friendly  alliance  with 
Poland,  in  which  he  succeeded  by  paying  a  large  sutn  of 
money  in  requital  for  the  provinces  of  Smolensk  and  Kiof 
which  his  arms  had  recovered. 

In  the  spring  of  1G78,  the  Turks  again  entered  the  Ukrn- 
ine  with  a  still  more  f  >rmidable  army  than  the  year  betbi'c. 
The  campaign  was  opened  by  laying  siege  to  the  city  C/.elie- 
rin,  which  was  encompassed  by  nearly  four  hundred  thousantl 
men,  and,  after  a  destructive  cannonade,  was  carried  by  storm. 


300  THE. EM  PIKE      OF      RUSSIA, 

Tile  garrison,  consisting  of  thirty  thousand  men,  were  put  to 
the  sword.  The  Russian  troops  were  so  panic-stricken  by  this 
defeat,  that  they  speedily  retreated.  Tlie  Turks  pursued  them 
a  long  distance,  constantly  harassing  their  rear.  But  the 
Turks,  in  their  turn,  were  compelled  to  retire,  being  driven 
back  by  famine,  a  foe  against  whom  their  weapons  could  make 
no  impression. 

The  Ottoman  Porte  soon  found  that  little  was  gained  by 
waging  war  with  an  empire  so  vast  and  sparsely  settled  as 
Russia,  and  that  their  conquest  of  the  desolated  and  depopu- 
lated lands  of  the  Ukraine,  was  by  no  means  worth  the  ex- 
penses of  the  war.  The  Porte  was  therefore  inclined  to  tnake 
peace  with  Russia,  that  the  Turkish  armies  might  tall  upon 
Poland  again,  which  presented  a  much  more  inviting  field  of 
conquest.  The  Poles  were  informed  of  this  through  their 
embassador  at  Constantinople,  and  earnestly  appealed  to  the 
tzar  of  Russia,  and  to  all  the  piinces  in  Christendom  to  come 
to  their  aid.  The  seltishness  which  every  court  manifested  is 
humiliating  to  human  nature.  Each  court  seemed  only  to 
think  of  its  own  aggrandizerflent.  Feodor  consented  to  aid 
them  only  on  condition  that  the  Poles  should  I'enounce  all 
pretension  to  any  places  then  in  possession  of  Russia.  To 
this  the  Polish  king  assented,  and  the  armies  of  Russia  and 
Poland  were  again  combined  to  repel  the  Turks. 


CHAPTER    XVIII. 

THE     REGENCY     OP    SOPHIA. 
From  1680  to  1697. 

Administration  of  Feodor. — Death  of  Ff.odor. — Incapacity  of  Ivan. — Succession 
OF  Pf.teb. — Usurpation  of  Sophia. — Insurrection  of  the  Strelitzf,s. — Massacre 
IN  Moscow.— Success  of  the  Insurrection.— Ivan  and  Peter  Declared  Sov- 
ereigns   UNDER    the    KeOENCY    OF    SOPIIIA. — GENERAL   DISCONTENT. — CONSPIBACT 

AGAINST  Sophia. — Her  Flight  to  the  Convent. — The  Conspiracy  Quelled. — 
New  Conspiracy— Energy  of  Peter.— He  Assumes  tub  Crown. — Sophia  Ban- 
ished TO  A  Convent. — Co.mmence.ment  of  the  Reign  of  Peter. 

IT^EODOK,  influenced  by  the  wise  counsels  of  liis  liitlier, 
devoted  much  attention  to  the  beautityini;-  of  liis  capital, 
and  to  developing  the  internal  resources  of  the  enipii-e.  He 
j)aved  the  streets  of  Moscow,  erected  several  Lirge  buildings 
of  stone  in  place  of  the  old  wooden  structures.  Commerce 
and  arts  were  patronized,  he  even  loaning,  from  the  public 
treasury,  sums  of  money  to  enterprising  men  to  encourage 
tlicm  in  their  industrial  enterprises.  Foreigners  of  distinction, 
both  scholars  and  artisans,  were  invited  to  take  up  their  resi- 
dence in  the  empire.  The  tzar  was  particularly  fond  of  fine 
liorses,  and  was  very  successful  in  improving,  by  importations, 
the  breed  in  Russia. 

Feodor  had  always  been  of  an  e.vceedingly  frail  constitu- 
tion, and  it  was  evident  lluit  he  could  not  anticii)ate  long  life. 
In  the  vear  1G81  he  married  a  daughter  of  one  of  the  nobles. 
His  bi-ide,  0])imia  Routoski,  was  also  frail  in  health,  though 
very  beautiful.  Six  months  liad  hardly  passed  away  ere 
tlie  youthful  em})i-ess  exchanged  her  bridal  robes  and  couch 
for  the  shroud  and  the  tomb.  The  emperor  himself,  grief- 
stricken,  was  rapidly  sinking  in  a  decline.    Mis  ministers  almost 


302  THE      EMPIRE      OP      RUSSIA. 

fi)rced  him  to  another  immediate  marriage,  hoping  that,  by  the 
biith  of  a  son,  the  succession  of  his  half  brother  Peter  might 
be  jji-e vented.  The  dying  emjieror  received  into  his  emaciate, 
feeble  arms  the  new  bride  wlio  had  been  selected  for  him,  Marva 
Matweowna,  and  after  a  few  weeks  of  languor  and  depression 
died.  He  was  deeply  lamented  by  his  subjects,  for  during  his 
short  reign  of  less  than  three  years  he  had  developed  a  noble 
character,  'and  had  accomplished  more  for  the  real  prosperity 
of  Russia  than  many  a  monarch  in  the  longest  occupation  of 
the  throne. 

Feodor  left  two  brothers — Ivan,  a  brother  by  the  same 
mother,  Eadocia,  and  Peter,  the  son  of  the  second  wife  of 
Alexis.  Ivan  was  very  feeble  in  body  and  in  mind,  with  dim 
\ision,  and  subject  to  epileptic  fits,  Feodor  con^^equently 
declared  his  younger  br(Jther  Peter,  who  was  but  ten  years 
of  age,  his  successor.  The  custom  of  the  empire  allowed  him 
to  do  this,  and  rendered  tliis  aj)pointment  vahd.  It  was  gene- 
rally the  doom  of  the  daughters  of  the  Russian  emperors,  who 
could  seldom  find  a  nuitch  equal  to  their  I'ank,  to  pass  their 
lives  immured  in  a  convent. 

Feodor  had  a  sister,  Sophia,  a  very  spirited,  energetic 
woman,  ambitious  and  resolute,  whose  whole  soul  revolted 
against  such  a  moping  existence.  Seeing  that  Feodor  had  but 
a  short  time  to  live,  she  left  her  convent  and  returned  to  the 
Kremlin,  persisting  in  her  resolve  to  perform  all  sisterly  duties 
for  her  dying  brother.  Ivan,  her  own  brother,  was  incapable 
of  reigning,  from  his  infirmities.  Peter,  her  half-brother,  was 
but  a  child.  Sophia,  with  wonderful  energy,  M'hile  tending  at 
the  couch  of  Feodor,  made  herself  familiar  with  the  details  of 
the  administration,  and,  acting  on  behalf  of  the  dying  sove- 
reign, gathered  the  reins  of  power  into  her  own  hands. 

As  soon  as  Feodor  expired,  and  it  was  announced  that 
Peter  whs  appointed  successor  to  the  throne,  to  the  exclusion 
of  his  elder  brother  Ivan,  Sopliia,  through  her  emissaries, 
excited  the  militia  of  the  capital  to  one  of  the  most  blood)" 


THE      REGENCY      OF      SOPHIA.  303 

revolts  Moscow  liad  ever  witnessed.  It  was  her  intention  to 
gain  the  throne  for  the  imbecile  Ivan,  as  she  doubted  not  that 
she  could,  in  that  event,  govern  the  empire  at  her  pleasure. 
Peter,  cliild  as  he  was,  had  already  developed  a  character  of 
self-reliance  which  taught  Sophia  that  he  would  speedily  wrest 
tlie  scepter  from  her  hands. 

The  second  day  after  tlie  burial  of  Feodor,  the  militia,  or 
strelitzes  as  they  were  called,  a  body  of  citizen  soldiei-s  in 
Moscow,  corresponding  very  much  with  the  national  guard  of 
Paris,  surrounded  the  Kremlin,  in  a  great  tmnult,  and  com- 
menced complaining  of  nine  of  their  colonels,  who  owed  them 
some  arrears  of  pay.  They  demanded  that  these  officers 
should  be  surrendered  to  them,  and  their  demand  was  so 
threatening  that  the  court,  intimidated,  was  compelled  to 
yield.  The  wretched  officers  were  seized  by  the  mob,  tied  to 
the  ground  naked,  upon  their  faces,  and  whipped  with  most 
terrible  severity.  The  soldiers  thus  overawed  opposition,  and 
became  a  power  \vhich  no  one  dared  resist.  Sophia  was  their 
inspiring  genius,  inciting  and  directing  thcn\  through  her 
emissaries.  Though  some  have  denied  her  complicity  in 
these  deeds  of  violence,  still  the  prevaiUng  voice  of  history 
is  altogether  against  her. 

Sophia,  having  the  terrors  of  the  mob  to  wield,  as  her  ex- 
ecutive power,  convened  an  assembl}/  of  the  princes  of  the 
blood,  the  generals,  the  lords,  the  patriarch  and  the  bishops 
of  the  church,  and  even  of  the  principal  merchants.  She 
urged  upon  them  that  Ivan,  by  right  of  birth,  was  entitled  to 
the  empire.  Tiie  mother  of  Peter,  Natalia  Nariskin,  now 
emj)ress  dowager,  was  still  young  and  beautiful.  She  had 
two  brothers  occupying  posts  of  influence  at  court.  The 
f  uniiy  of  the  Nariskins  had  consequently  much  authority  in 
tlu!  empire.  So))hia  dreaded  the  power  of  her  mother-in-law, 
and  her  fii-st  effi)rts  of  intrigue  were  directed  against  tin; 
Nariskins.  Her  agents  were  everywhere  busy,  in  tlii;  couit 
and   in  the  army,  whispering  insinuations   against   tlu-m.      It 


304  THE      EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

was  even  intimated  that  they  had  caused  the  death  of  Feodor, 
by  bribing  his  physician  to  jDoison  him,  and  that  they  had 
attempted  tlie  Hfe  of  Ivan.  At  length  Sophia  gave  to  her 
agents  a  list  of  forty  lords  whom  they  were  to  denounce  to 
the  insurgent  soldiery  as  enemies  to  them  and  to  the  State. 

This  was  the  signal  for  their  massacre.  Two  were  first 
seized  in  the  palace  of  the  Kremlin,  and  thrown  out  of  the 
window.  The  soldiers  received  them  upon  their  pikes,  and 
dragged  their  mutilated  corpses  through  the  streets  to  the 
great  square  of  the  city.  They  then  rushed  back  to  the 
palace,  where  they  found  Athanasius  ISTariskin,  one  of  the 
brothers  of  the  queen  dowager.  He  was  immediately  mur- 
dered. They  soon  after  found  three  of  the  proscribed  in  a 
church,  to  which  they  had  fled  as  a  sanctuary.  Notwith- 
standing the  sacredness  of  the  church,  the  unhappy  lords 
were  instantly  hewn  to  pieces  by  the  swords  of  the  assassins. 
Thus  frenzied  with  blood,  they  met  a  young  lord  whom  they 
mistook  for  Ivan  Nariskin,  the  remaining  brother  of  the  moth- 
er of  Peter.  He  was  instantly  slahi,  and  then  the  assassins 
discovered  theii*  error.  With  some  slight  sense  of  justice, 
perhaps  of  humanity,  they  carried  the  bleeding  corpse  of  the 
young  nobleman  to  his  father.  The  panic-sti-icken,  heart- 
broken parent  dared  not  rebuke  them  for  the  murder,  but 
thanked  them  for  bringing  to  him  the  corpse  of  his  child. 
Tlie  mother,  more  impulsive  and  less  cautious,  broke  out  into 
bitter  and  almost  delirious  reproaches.  The  father,  to  apjDease 
her,  said  to  her,  in  an  under  tone,  "  Let  us  wait  till  tlie  hour 
shall  come  wlien  we  shall  be  able  to  take  revenge." 

Some  one  overheard  the  imprudent  words,  and  reported 
them  to  the  mob.  They  immediately  returned,  dragged  the 
old  man  down  the  stairs  of  his  palace  by  the  hair,  and  cut  his 
lliroat  upon  his  own  door  sill.  They  were  now  searching  the 
city,  in  all  directions,  for  Von  Gaden  the  German  physician 
of  the  late  tzar,  who  was  accused  of  administering  to  him 
poison.     They  met  in  the  streets,  the  son  of  the  physician, 


THE      KEGENCY     OF     SOPHIA.  305 

and  demanded  of  liim  wlierc  his  flither  was.  The  trembling 
lad  rej^Iied  tliat  he  did  not  knosv.  They  cut  him  down.  Soon 
they  met  another  German  i)hysician. 

"You  are  a  doctor,"  tiiey  said.  "  If  you  liave  not  poi- 
soned our  sovereign  you  liave  poisoned  others,  and  deserve 
death." 

He  was  immediately  murdered.  At  length  they  discov- 
ered Von  Gaden.  He  had  attempted  to  disguise  himself  in 
a  beggar's  garb.  The  worthy  old  man,  wlio,  like  most  emi- 
nent physicians,  was  as  distinguished  for  humanity  as  for 
eminent  medical  skill,  was  dragged  to  the  Krendin.  The 
princesses  themselves  came  out  and  mingled  with  the  crowd, 
begging  for  the  life  of  the  good  man,  assuring  them  that  he 
had  been  a  faithful  physician  and  that  he  had  served  their 
sovereign  with  zeal.  The  soldiers  declared  that  he  deserved 
to  die,  as  they  had  positive  proof  that  he  was  a  sorcerer,  for, 
in  searching  his  apartments,  they  had  found  the  skin  of  a 
snake  and  several  I'eptiles  preserved  in  bottles.  Against  such 
proof  no  eai'thly  testimony  could  avail. 

Tliey  also  demanded  that  Ivan  Nariskin,  whom  they  had 
been  seeking  for  two  days,  should  be  delivered  up  to  them. 
They  were  sure  that  he  was  concealed  somewhere  in  the 
Kremlin,  and  they  threatened  to  set  tire  to  the  palace  and 
burn  it  to  the  ground  unless  he  were  immediately  delivered 
to  them.  It  was  evident  that  these  threats  would  be  promptly 
put  into  execution.  Firing  the  palace  would  certainly  insure 
liis  death.  Tliere  was  the  bare  j^ossibility  of  escape  by  sur- 
rendering him  to  the  mob.  The  empress  herself  went  to  her 
brother  in  his  concealment  and  informed  him  of  the  direful 
choice  before  him.  The  young  prince  sent  for  the  patriarch, 
confessed  his  sins,  partook  of  the  Lord's  Supper,  received  the 
sacrament  of  extreme  unction  in  preparation  for  death,  and 
was  then  led  out,  Ity  tlu'  patriaich  hiiii'^elf,  dressed  in  his  pon 
tifical  rf)bes  and  bearing  an  ima'j,e  of  the  Virgin  Mary,  and 
was  delivered  by  liini  to  the  soldiers.     The  (^ueen  and  the 


306  THE     EMPIKE     OF      RUSSIA. 

princesses  accompanied  the  victim,  surrounding  him,  ana,  fall- 
ing upon  tlieir  knees  before  the  sokiiers,  they  united  with  the 
patriarch  in  pleading  for  his  life.  But  the  mob,  intoxicated 
and  maddened,  dragged  the  young  prince  and  the  physician 
before  a  tribunal  which  they  had  constituted  on  the  spot,  and 
condemned  them  to  what  was  expressively  called  the  punish- 
ment of  "  ten  thousand  slices."  Their  bodies  were  speedily 
cut  into  the  smallest  fragments,  while  their  heads  were  stuck 
upon  the  iron  spikes  of  the  balustrade. 

Tiiese  outrages  were  terminated  by  a  proclamation  from 
the  soldiery  that  Ivan  and  Peter  should  be  joint  sovereigns 
under  the  regency  of  Sophia.  The  regent  rewarded  her  par- 
tisans liberally  for  their  efficient  and  successful  measures. 
Upon  the  leaders  she  conferred  the  contiscated  estates  of  the 
proscribed.  A  monument  of  shame  was  reared,  upon  which 
the  names  of  the  assassinated  were  engraved  as  traitors  to 
tiieir  country.     The  soldiers  were  rewarded  with  double  pay. 

Sopiiia  unscrujjulously  usurped  all  the  prerogatives  and 
honors  of  royally.  All  dispatches  were  sealed  with  her  hand. 
Her  effigy  was  stamped  upon  the  cun-ent  coin.  She  took  her 
seat  as  presiding  officer  at  tlie  council.  To  confer  a  little  more 
dignity  upon  the  character  of  her  imbecile  brother,  Ivan,  she 
selected  for  him  a  wifo',  a  }  oung  lady  of  extraordinary  beauty 
whose  father  had  command  of  a  fortress  in  Siberia.  It  was  on 
the  25th  of  June,  1682,.  that  Sophia  assumed  the  regency.  In 
1684  Ivan  was  married.  The  scenes  of  violence  which  had 
occurred  agitated  the  whole  political  atmosphere  throughout 
the  empire.  There  was  intense  exasperation,  and  many  con- 
spiracies were  formed  for  the  overthrow  of  the  government. 
The  most  formidable  of  these  conspiracies  was  organized  by 
Couvanski,  commander-in-chief  of  the  strehtzes.  He  was  dis- 
satislied  with  the  rewards  he  had  i-eceived,  and,  conscious 
that  he  had  placed  Sophia  upon  the  tlirone  through  the  ener- 
gies of  tile  soldiers  he  commanded,  he  believed  that  he  might 
just  as  easily  have   placed   himself  there.      Having  become 


THE     KEGENCY      OF      SOPHIA.  307 

accustomed  to  blood,  the  slaugliter  of  a  few  raoi'e  persons, 
that  he  might  place  the  crown  upon  his  own  brow,  appeared 
to  liim  a  matter  of  but  little  moment.  He  accordingly  planned 
to  murder  the  two  tzars,  the  regent  Sophia  and  all  the  remain- 
ing princes  of  the  royal  family.  Then,  by  lavishing  abundant  re- 
wards upon  the  soldiers,  he  doubted  not  that  he  could  secure 
their  efficient  cooperation  in  maintaining  him  on  the  throne. 

The  conspiracy  was  discovered  upon  the  eve  of  its  accom- 
l)lishnient.  Sophia  immediately  fled  with  the  two  tzars  and 
the  princes,  to  the  monastery  of  the  Trinity.  This  was  a 
palace,  a  convent  and  a  fortress.  The  vast  pile,  reared  of 
stone,  was  situated  thirty-six  miles  from  Moscow,  and  was 
encompassed  with  deep  ditches,  and  massive  ramparts  brist- 
ling witli  cannon.  The  monks  were  in  possession  of  the 
"whole  country  for  a  space  of  twelve  miles  around  this  almost 
impregnable  citadel.  From  this  safe  retreat  Sophia  opened 
communications  with  the  rebel  chief.  She  succeeded  in  al- 
luring Jiim  to  come  half  way  to  meet  her  in  conference.  A 
powerful  band  of  soldiers,  placed  in  ambush,  seized  him.  He 
was  immediately  beheaded,  with  one  of  his. sons,  and  thirty- 
seven  strelitzes  who  had  accompanied  him. 

As  soon  as  the  strelitzes  in  Moscow,  numbering  many 
thousands,  heard  of  the  assassination  of  their  general  and  of 
tlieir  comrades,  the^''  flew  to  arms,  and  in  solid  battalions, 
with  infantry,  artillery  and  cavalry,  marched  to  the  assault  of 
the  convent.  The  regent  rallied  her  supporters,  consisting  of 
the  lords  who  were  her  partisans,  and  their  vassals,  and  pre- 
pared for  a  vigorous  defense.  Russia  seemed  now  upon  the 
eve  of  a  bloody  civil  war.  The  nobles  generally  espoused 
the  cause  of  the  tzars  under  the  regency  of  Sophia.  Their 
claims  seemed  those  of  legitimacy,  while  the  success  of  the 
insm-rectionary  soldiers  promised  only  anarchy.  The  rise  of 
the  people  in  defense  of  the  govermnent  was  so  sudden  and 
siinuhaneous,  that  the  strelitzes  were  })anic-stricken,  and  soon, 
in  the   most  abject   submission,  implored  pardon,  which   was 


308  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

wisely  granted  tliem.  Sophia,  with  the  tzars,  surrounded  by 
an  army,  returned  in  triumph  to  Moscow.  TranquilUty  was 
thus  restored. 

Sophia  still  held  the  reins  of  power  with  a  firm  grasp. 
The  imbecility  of  Ivan  and  the  youth  of  Peter  rendered  this 
usurpation  easy.  Very  adi-oitly  she  sent  the  most  mutinous 
regiments  of  the  strelitzes  on  apparently  honorable  missions 
to  the  distant  provinces  of  the  Ukraine,  Kesan,  and  Siberia. 
Poland,  menaced  by  the  Turks,  made  peace  with  Russia,  and 
j^urchased  her  alliance  by  the  surrender  of  the  vast  province 
of  Smolensk  and  all  the  conquered  territory  in  the  Ukraine. 
In  the  year  1687,  Sophia  sent  the  first  Russian  embassy  to 
France,  which  was  then  in  the  meridian  of  her  si^lendor, 
under  the  reign  of  Louis  XIV.  Voltaire  states  that  France, 
at  that  time,  was  so  unacquainted  with  Russia,  that  the 
Academy  of  Inscriptions  celebrated  this  embassy  by  a  medal, 
as  if  it  had  come  from  India.*  The  Crimean  Tartars,  in  con- 
federacy with  the  Turks,  kept  Russia,  Poland,  Hungary, 
Transylvania,  and  the  various  provinces  of  the  German  em- 
pire in  perpetual  alarm.  Poland  and  Russia  were  so  hu- 
miliated, that  for  several  years  they  had  purchased  exemp- 
tion from  these  barbaric  forays  by  paying  the  Tartars  an 
annual  tribute  amounting  to  fifty  thousand  dollars  each. 
Soj)hia,  anxious  to  wipe  out  this  disgrace,  renewed  the  efft)rt, 
which  had  so  often  failed,  to  unite  all  Europe  against  the 
Turks.  Innnense  armies  were  raised  by  Russia  and  Poland 
and  sent  to  the  Tauride.  For  two  years  a  bloody  war  i-aged 
with  about  equal  slaughter  upon  both  sides,  while  neither 
party  gained  any  marked  advantage. 

Peter  had  now  attained  his  eighteenth  year,  and  began  to 
manifest  pretty  decisively  a  will  of  his  own.     He  fell  in  love 

*  "  La  France  n'avait  eu  encore  aucune  corrcspondance  avec  la  Russie ;  on 
ne  Ic  counaisdait  pas ;  et  I'Acadomio  ties  Inscriptions  celebra  par  uno  modaille 
cctte  ainbassade,  coraino  si  ello  fut  venue  des  Indos." — Histoirc  de  tErnpire  de 
Russie,  sous  Pierre  le  Grand,  page  93. 


THE     REGENCY      OF     SOPHIA.  309 

with  a  beaiuit'iu  maiden,  Ottokusa  Lapiicliin,  daughter  of  one 
of  his  nobles,  and,  notwithstanding  all  the  intriguing  opj)osi- 
tion  of  Sophia,  persisted  in  marrying  her.  This  marriage  in- 
creased greatly  the  popularity  of  the  young  prince,  and  it 
was  very  manifest  that  he  would  soon  thrust  Sophia  aside, 
and  with  his  own  vigorous  arm,  wield  the  scepter  alone. 

The  regent,  whose  hands  were  already  stained  with  tlie 
blood  of  assassination,  now  resolved  to  remove  Peter  out  of 
the  way.  The  young  prince,  with  his  bride,  was  residing  at 
bis  country  seat,  a  few  miles  out  from  Moscow.  So})liia,  in 
that  con-upt,  barbaric  age,  found  no  difficulty  in  obtaining, 
with  bribes,  as  many  accomplices  as  she  wanted.  Two  dis- 
tingnished  generals  led  a  party  of  six  hundred  strelitzes  out 
of  the  city,  to  surround  the  palace  of  Peter  and  to  secure  his 
death.  The  soldiers  had  already  commenced  their  march, 
when  Peter  was  informed  of  his  danger.  The  tzar  leaped 
upon  a  hoi-se,  and  sixirring  him  to  his  utmost  speed,  accom- 
panied by  a  i'aw  attendants,  escaped  to  the  cotivent  of  the 
Trinity,  to  which  we  have  before  alluded  as  one  of  the 
strongest  fortresses  of  Russia.  The  mother,  wife  and  sister 
of  the  tzar,  immediately  joined  him  there. 

The  soldiers  were  not  aware  of  the  mission  which  their 
leaders  were  intending  to  accomplish.  When  they  arrived  at 
the  palace,  and  it  was  found  that  the  tzar  had  fled,  and  it  was 
whispered  about  that  he  had  fled  to  save  his  life,  the  soldiers, 
by  nature  more  strongly  attaclied  to  a  chivah'ous  young  man 
than  to  an  intriguing,  ambitious  woman,  whose  character  was 
of  very  doubtful  reputation,  broke  out  into  open  revolt,  and, 
abandoning  their  officers,  marched  directly  to  the  monastery 
and  off*ered  tlieii'  services  to  Peter.  The  patriarch,  whose  le- 
ligious  character  gave  him  almost  unbounded  influence  wilii 
tlie  people,  also  found  that  he  was  included  as  one  of  the  vic- 
tims of  the  coiispii-acy  ;  that  he  was  to  havi'  been  assassinated, 
and  his  place  conferred  upon  one  of  the  partisans  ol"  Sojihia. 
He  also  fle<l  to  the  convent  of  the  Trinity. 


310  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

Sophia  now  founcl  herself  deserted  by  the  soldiery  and  tlio 
ii:;tion.  She  accordingly,  with  the  most  solemn  protestations, 
declared  that  she  had  been  accused  falsely,  and  after  sending 
messenger  after  messenger  to  plead  her  cause  with  her  brother, 
resolved  to  go  herself.  She  had  not  advanced  more  than  half 
way,  ere  she  was  met  by  a  detachment  of  Peter's  friends  wlio 
informed  her,  from  him,  that  she  must  go  directly  back  to 
Moscow,  as  she  could  not  be  received  into  the  convent.  The 
next  day  Peter  assembled  a  council,  and  it  was  resolved  to 
bring  the  traitors  to  justice.  A  colonel,  with  three  hundred 
men,  was  sent  to  the  Kremlin  to  arrest  the  officers  implicated 
in  the  consj^iracy.  They  were  loaded  with  chains,  conducted 
to  the  Trinity,  and  in  accordance  with  the  barbaric  custom  of 
the  times  were  put  to  the  torture.  In  agony  too  dreadful  to 
be  borne,  they  of  course  made  any  confession  which  was  de- 
manded. 

Peter  was  reluctant  to  make  a  public  example  of  his  sister. 
There  ensued  a  series  of  punishments  of  the  conspirators  too 
revolting  to  be  narrated.  The  mildest  of  these  punishments 
was  exile  to  Siberia,  there,  in  the  extremest  penury,  to  linger 
through  scenes  of  woe  so  long  as  God  should  prolong  their 
lives.  The  executions  being  terminated  and  the  exiles  out  of 
sight,  Sophia  was  ordered  to  leave  the  Kremlin,  and  retire  to 
the  cloisters  of  Denitz,  which  she  was  never  again  to  leave. 
Peter  then  made  a  triumphal  entry  into  Moscow.  He  was 
accompanied  by  a  guard  of  eighteen  thousand  ti'oops.  His 
feeble  brother  Ivan  received  him  at  the  outer  gate  of  tlie 
Kremlin.  They  embraced  each  otlier  with  much  affection,  and 
then  retired  to  their  respective  apartments.  The  wife  and 
mother  of  Peter  accompanied   him  on  liis  return  to  Moscow. 

Thus  terminated  the  regency  of  Sophia.  From  this  time 
Peter  was  the  real  sovereign  of  Russia.  His  brother  Ivan 
took  no  other  share  in  the  government  than  that  of  lending 
his  name  to  the  public  acts.  He  lived  for  a  few  years  in  gi-eat 
seclusion,  almost  forgotten,    and    died   in    1696.     Peter  was 


!^P^ 


THE     REGENCY      OF      SOPHIA.  311 

physically,  as  well  as  intellectually,  a  re  mark  able  man.  He 
was  tall  and  finely  formed,  with  noble  features  lighted  up 
with  an  extremely  brilliant  eye.  Ills  constitution  was  robust, 
enabling  him  to  undergo  great  hardship,  and  he  was,  by 
nature,  a  man  of  great  activity  and  energy.  His  education, 
however,  was  exceedingly  defective.  The  regent  Sophia  had 
not  only  exerted  all  her  infiuence  to  keep  him  in  ignorance, 
but  also  to  allure  him  into  the  wildest  excesses  of  j'outhl'ul 
indulgence.  Even  his  recent  marriage  had  not  interfered 
with  the  publicity  of  his  amours,  and  all  distinguished  foreign- 
ers in  Moscow  were  welcomed  by  him  to  scenes  of  feasting 
and  carousing. 

Notwithstanding  these  deplorable  defects  of  character,  for 
which  much  allowance  is  to  be  made  from  the  neglect  of  his 
education  and  his  peculiar  temptations,  still  it  was  manifest  to 
close  observers  even  then,  that  the  seeds  of  true  greatness 
were  implanted  in  his  nature.  When  five  years  of  age,  he 
was  riding  with  his  mother  in  a  coach,  and  was  asleep  in  her 
arms.  As  they  were  passing  over  a  bridge  where  there  was  a 
heavy  fall  of  Avater  from  spring  rains,  the  roar  of  the  cataract 
awoke  him.  The  noise,  with  the  sudden  aspect  of  the  rushing 
torrent,  created  such  terror  that  he  was  thrown  into  a  fever, 
and,  for  years,  he  could  not  see  any  standing  water,  much  less 
a  running  stream,  without  being  thrown  almost  into  convul- 
sions. To  overcome  this  weakness,  he  resolutely  persisted  in 
plunging  into  the  waves  until  his  aversion  was  changed  into  a 
great  fondness  for  that  element. 

Ashamed  of  his  ignorance,  he  vigorously  commenced 
studying  German,  and,  notwithstanding  all  the  seductions 
of  the  court,  succeeded  in  acquiring  such  a  mastery  of  the 
language  as  to  be  able  both  to  speak  and  write  it  correctly. 
Peter's  father,  Alexis,  had  been  anxious  to  open  the  fields  of 
commerce  to  his  subjects,  ITe  had,  at  great  expense,  engaged 
the  services  of  ship  buihlers  and  navigatoi's  from  Holland.  A 
frigate  and   a  yacht  had   been   constructed,  with   which  the 


312  THE     EM  PIKE      OF     RUSSIA. 

Volga  bad  been  navigated  to  its  mouth  at  Astrachan.  It 
was  his  intention  to  open  a  trade  with  Persia  through  the 
Caspian  Sea.  But,  in  a  revolt  at  Astrachan,  the  vessels  were 
seized  and  destroyed,  and  the  captain  killed.  Thus  termin- 
ated this  enterprise.  The  master  builder,  liowever,  remained 
in  Russia,  where  he  lived  a  long  time  in  obscurity. 

One  day,  Peter,  at  one  of  his  summer  palaces  of  Ismaelhof, 
saw  upon  the  shore  of  the  lake  the  remains  of  a  pleasure  boat 
of  peculiar  construction.  Pie  had  never  before  seen  any  boat 
but  such  as  was  propelled  by  oars.  The  peculiarity  of  the 
structure  of  this  arrested  his  attention,  and  being  informed 
that  it  was  constructed  for  sails  as  well  as  oars,  he  ordered  it 
to  be  repaired,  that  he  might  make  trial  of  it.  It  so  chanced 
that  the  shipwiight,  Brandt,  from  Holland,  who  had  built  the 
boat,  was  found,  and  the  tzar,  to  his  great  delight,  enjoyed, 
for  the  first  time  in  his  life,  the  pleasures  of  a  sail.  He  imme- 
diately gave  directions  for  the  boat  to  be  transported  to  the 
great  lake  near  the  convent  of  the  Trinity,  and  here  he  or- 
dered two  frigates  and  three  yachts  to  be  built.  For  months 
he  amused  himself  piloting  his  little  fleet  over  the  waves  of 
the  lake.  Like  many  a  plebeian  boy,  the  tzar  had  now 
acquired  a  passion  for  the  sea,  and  he  longed  to  get  a  sight 
of  the  ocean. 

With  this  object  in  view,  in  1694  he  set  out  on  a  journey 
of  nearly  a  thousand  miles  to  Archangel,  on  the  shores  of  the 
White  Sea.  Taking  his  shipwrights  with  him,  he  had  a  small 
vessel  constructed,  in  which  he  embarked  for  the  exploration 
of  the  Frozen  Ocean,  a  body  of  water  which  no  sovereign  had 
seen  before  him.  A  Dutch  man-of-war,  which  chanced  to  be 
in  the  harbor  at  Archangel,  and  all  the  merchant  fleet  there 
accompanied  the  tzar  on  this  expedition.  The  sovereign  him- 
self had  already  acquired  much  of  the  art  of  working  a  ship, 
a:.Hl  on  this  trip  devoted  all  his  energies  to  improvement  in 
the  science  and  practical  skill  of  navigation. 

While  the  tzar  was  thus  turnin<r  his  attention  to  the  sub- 


THE     REGENCY      OF      SOPHIA.  313 

ject  of  a  uavy,  he  at  the  same  time  was  adopting  measures 
of  extraordinary  vigor  for  the  reorganization  of  the  army. 
Hitherto  the  army  had  been  composed  of  hands  of  vassals, 
poorly  armed  and  without  discipline,  led  by  their  lords,  who 
were  often  entirely  without  experience  in  tlie  arts  of  war. 
Peter  commenced,  at  his  country  residence,  with  a  company 
of  fifty  picked  men,  who  were  put  through  the  most  thorough 
drill  by  General  Gordon,  a  Scotchman  of  much  military  ability, 
who  had  secured  the  confidence  of  the  tzar.  Some  of  the  sons 
of  the  lords  were  chosen  as  their  oflicers,  but  these  young- 
nobles  were  all  trained  by  the  same  military  discipline,  Peter 
setting  them  the  example  by  passing  through  all  the  degrees 
of  the  service  from  the  very  lowest  rank.  He  shouldered  his 
musket,  and  commencing  at  the  humblest  post,  served  as  sen- 
tinel, sergeant  and  lieutenant.  No  one  ventured  to  refuse  to 
follow  in  tlie  footsteps  of  his  sovereign.  This  company,  thus 
formed  and  disciplined,  was  rapidly  increased  until  it  became 
the  royal  guard,  most  terrible  on  the  field  of  battle.  Wiien 
this  regiment  numbered  five  thousand  men,  another  regiment 
upon  the  same  principle  was  organized,  which  contained 
twelve  thousand.  It  is  a  remarkable  fact  stated  by  Voltaire, 
that  one  third  of  these  troops  were  French  refugees,  driven 
from  France  by  the  revocation  of  the  Edict  of  Nantes. 

One  of  tlie  first  eflforts  of  the  far-sighted  monarch  was  to 
consolidate  the  army  and  to  bring  it  under  the  energy  of  one 
mind,  by  breaking  down  the  independence  of  the  nobles,  who 
had  heretofore  acted  as  petty  sovereigns,  leading  their  con- 
tingents of  vassals.  Peter  was  thus  preparing  to  make  the 
influence  of  Russia  felt  among  the  armies  of  Europe  as  it  had 
never  been  felt  before. 

The  Russian  empire,  sweeping  across  Siberian  Asia,  reached 
down  indefinitely  to  about  the  latitude  of  fifty-two  degrees, 
where  it  was  met  by  the  Chinese  claims.  Very  naturally,  a 
dispute  arose  respecting  the  boundaries,  and  with  a  degree  of 
good  sense  which  seems  almost  incrediljle  in  view  of  the  de- 

14 


314  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

velopments  of  history,  the  two  lialf-civilized  nations  clet-ided 
to  settle  the  question  by  conference  rather,  than  by  war.  A 
place  of  meeting,  for  the  embassadors,  was  appointed  on  the 
frontiers  of  Siberia,  about  nine  hundred  miles  from  the  great 
Chinese  wall.  Fortunately  for  both  parties,  there  were  some 
Christian  missionaries  who  accompanied  the  Chinese  as  inter- 
preters. Probably  through  the  influence  of  these  men  of 
peace  a  treaty  was  soon  formed.  Both  parties  pledged  them- 
selves to  the  observance  of  the  treaty  in  the  following  words, 
which  were  doubtless  written  by  the  missionaries: 

"  If  any  of  us  entertain  the  least  thought  of  renewing  the 
flames  of  war,  we  beseech  the  supreme  Lord  of  all  things, 
who  knows  the  heart  of  man,  to  punish  the  traitor  with  sud- 
den death." 

Two  large  pillars  were  erected  upon  the  spot  to  mark  the 
boundaries  between  the  two  emi^ires,  and  the  treaty  was  en- 
graved upon  each  of  them.  Soon  after,  a  treaty  of  commerce 
was  formed,  which  commerce,  with  brief  interruptions,  has 
continued  to  flourish  until  the  present  day.  Peter  now  i)re- 
pared,  with  his  small  but  highly  disciplined  army,  to  make 
vigorous  warfare  upon  the  Turks,  and  to  obtain,  if  possible, 
the  control  of  the  Black  Sea.  Early  in  the  summer  of  1695 
the  Russian  army  commenced  its  march.  Striking  the  head 
waters  of  the  Don,  they  descended  the  valley  of  that  river  to 
attack  the  city  of  Azov,  an  important  port  of  the  Turks,  sit- 
uated on  an  island  at  the  mouth  of  the  Don. 

The  tzar  accompanied  his  troops,  not  as  commander-in- 
chief,  but  a  volunteer  soldier.  Generals  Gordon  and  Le  Fort, 
veteran  ofticers,  had  tlie  ccMumand  of  the  expedition.  Azov 
was  a  very  strong  fortress  and  was  defeudi'd  by  a  numerous 
garrison.  It  was  found  necessary  to  invest  the  place  and 
commence  a  regular  siege.  A  foreign  officer  from  Dantzic, 
by  the  name  of  Jacob,  had  the  direction  of  the  battering 
train.  For  some  violation  of  mihtary  etiquette,  he  had  been 
condemned  to  ignominious  punishment.     The  Russians  were 


THE      R  ^i  •-   k;  X  O  Y      OF      SOPHIA.  315 

accustomed  to  such  treatment,  but  Jacob,  burning  witli  re- 
venge, spiked  liis.  guns,  deserted,  joined  the  enemy,  adopted 
the  Mussuhiian  faith,  and  with  great  vigor  conducted  the  de- 
fense. 

Jacob  was  a  man  of  mucli  military  science,  and  he  suc- 
ceeded in  tliwarting  all  the  elForts  of  the  besiegers.  In  the 
attempt  to  storm  the  town  the  Russians  were  repulsed  with 
great  loss,  and  at  length  were  compelled  to  raise  the  siege 
and  to  retire.  But  Peter  was  not  a  man  to  yield  to  difficul- 
ties. The  next  summer  he  was  found  before  Azov,  with  a 
still  more  formidable  force.  In  this  attempt  the  tzar  was  suc- 
cessful, and  on  the  28th  of  July  the  garrison  surrendej'ed 
without  obtaining  any  of  the  honors  of  war.  Elated  with 
success  Peter  increased  the  fortifications,  dug  a  harbor  capa- 
ble of  liolding  large  ships,  and  prepared  to  fit  out  a  strong 
fleet  against  the  Turks ;  which  fleet  was  to  consist  of  nine 
sixty  gun  ships,  and  forty-one  of  from  thirty  to  fifty  guns. 
While  the  fleet  was  being  built  he  returned  to  Moscow,  and 
to  impress  his  subjects  with  a  sense  of  the  great  victory  ob- 
tained, he  marched  the  army  into  Moscow  beneath  triumphal 
arches,  while  the  whole  city  was  surrendered  to  all  the  dem- 
onstrations of  joy.  Characteristically  Peter  refused  to  take 
any  of  the  credit  of  the  victory  which  had  been  gained  by  the 
skill  and  valor  of  his  generals.  These  officers  consequently 
took  the  precedency  of  their  sovereign  in  the  triumphal  pro- 
cession, Peter  declaiing  that  merit  was  the  only  road  to  mili- 
taiy  preferment,  and  that,  as  yet,  he  had  attained  no  rank  in 
the  army.  In  imitation  of  the  ancient  Romans,  the  captives 
taken  in  the  war  were  led  in  the  train  of  the  victors.  The 
unfortunate  Jacob  was  carried  in  a  cart,  with  a  rope  about 
his  nock,  and  after  being  broken  upon  the  wheel  was  igno- 
miniously  hung. 


CHAPTER     XIX. 

PETER      THE       GREAT. 

From  1697  to  1702. 

Young  Russians  Sent  to  Foreign  Countries. — The  Tzar  Decides  Upon  \  Tour  of 
Observation. — Mis  Plan  of  Travel. — Anecdote. — Peter's  Mode  of  Lifk  in 
Holland. — Characteristic  Anecdotes. — The  Presentation  op  the  E.mhassadok. 
— The  TZ.4.R  Visits  England. — Life  at  Deptford.  —  Illustp.ioi's  Foreigners  En- 
gaged in  IIis  Service. — Peter  Visits  Vienna. — The  Ga.me  of  Landloud. — Insuk- 
KECTiON  IN  Moscow. — Keturn  of  the  Tzar,  and  Measures  op  Severity.— War 
■with  Sweden. — Disastrous  Defeat  op  Narva. — Efforts  to  Secure  the  Shores 
of  the  Baltic. — Designs  Upon  the  Black  Sea. 

IT  was  a  source  of  mortification  to  the  tzar  that  lie  was  cle- 
pcmlent  upon  foreigners  for  the  construction  of  liis  sliips. 
He  accordingly  sent  sixty  young  Russians  to  the  sea-ports  of 
Venice  and  Leghorn,  in  Italy,  to  acquire  the  art  of  ship-huild- 
ing,  and  to  learn  scientific  and  practical  navigation.  Soon 
after  this  he  sent  forty  more  to  Holland  for  the  same  purpose. 
He  sent  also  a  hirge  number  of  young  men  to  Germany,  to 
learn  the  military  discipline  of  that  warlike  people. 

He  now  adopted  the  extraordinary  resolve  of  traveling 
himself,  incognito,  through  most  of  the  countries  of  Europe, 
that  he  might  see  how  they  were  governed,  and  might  be- 
come acquainted  with  the  progress  they  had  made  in  the  arts 
and  sciences.  In  this  European  tour  he  decided  to  omit 
Spain,  because  the  arts  there  were  but  little  cultivated,  and 
France,  because  he  disliked  the  pompous  ceremonials  of  the 
court  of  Louis  XIV.  His  plan  of  travel  was  as  ingenuous  as 
it  was  odd.  An  extraordinary  embassage  was  sent  by  him, 
as  Emperor  of  Russia,  to  all  the  leading  courts  of  Europe. 
These  embassadors  received  minute  instructions,  and  were 
fitted  out  for  their  expedition  with   splendor  which    should 


PETER     THE     GREAT.  31 7 

add  to  the  renown  of  the  Russian  monarchy.  Peter  followed 
in  the  retinue  of  this  embassage  as  a  private  gentleman  of 
Avealth,  with  the  servants  suitable  for  his  station. 

Three  nobles  of  the  highest  dignity  were  selected  as  em- 
bassadors. Their  retinue  consisted  of  four  secretaries,  twelve 
gentlemen,  two  pages  for  each  embassador,  and  a  company  of 
fifty  of  the  royal  guard.  The  whole  embassage  embraced 
two  hundred  persons.  The  tzar  was  lost  to  view  in  this 
crowd.  He  reserved  for  himself  one  valet  de  chambre,  one 
servant  in  livery,  and  a  dwarf  "  It  was,"  says  Voltaire,  "  a 
thing  unparalleled  in  history,  either  ancient  or  modern,  for  a 
sovereign,  of  five  and  twenty  years  of  age,  to  withdraw  from 
his  kingdoms,  only  to  learn  the  art  of  government."  The 
regency,  during  his  absence,  was  entrusted  to  two  of  the  lords 
in  whom  he  reposed  confidence,  who  were  to  consult,  in  cases 
of  importance,  with  the  rest  of  the  nobility.  General  Gor- 
don, the  Scotch  ofKcer,  was  placed  in  command  of  four  thou- 
sand of  the  royal  troops,  to  secure  the  peace  of  the  capi- 
tal. 

The  embassadors  commenced  their  journey  in  April,  1G97. 
Passing  directly  west  from  Moscow  to  Novgorod,  they  theuce 
traversed  the  province  of  Livonia  until  they  reached  Riga, 
at  the  mouth  of  the  Dwhia.  Peter  was  anxious  to  ex- 
amine the  important  fortilications  of  this  place,  but  the 
governor  peremj)torily  forbade  it,  Riga  then  belonging  to 
Sweden.  Peter  did  not  forget  the  affront.  Continuing  their 
journey,  they  arrived  at  Konigsbui'g,  the  capital  of  the  feeble 
electorate  of  Brandenburg,  which  has  since  grown  into  the 
kingdom  of  Pi'ussia.  The  elector,  an  ambitious  man,  who 
subsequently  took  the  title  of  king,  received  them  with  an 
extravagant  display  of  splendor.  At  one  of  the  baccliaualian 
feasts,  given  on  tl>e  occasion,  the  bad  and  good  (jualilies  of 
Peter  were  vei-y  conspicuously  displayed.  Heated  with  wine, 
and  provoked  by  a  remark  made  by  La  Fort,  who  was  one  of 
his  embassadors,  he  drew  his  sword  and  called  upon  La  Fort 


318  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA, 

to  defend  himself.  The  embassador  humbly  bowed,  folded 
liis  hands  upon  his  breast,  and  said, 

"  Far  be  it  from  me.  Rather  let  me  perish  by  the  hand 
of  my  master."  The  tzar,  enraged  and  intoxicated,  raised  his 
arm  to  strike,  when  one  of  the  retinue  seized  the  uplifted  liand 
and  averted  the  blow.  Peter  immediately  recovered  his  self- 
possession,  and  sheathing  his  sword  said  to  his  embassador, 

"  I  ask  your  pardon.  It  is  my  great  desire  to  reform  my 
subjects,  arid  yet  I  am  ashamed  to  confess  that  I  am  unable  to 
reform  myself" 

From  Konigsbui-g  they  continued  their  route  to  Berlin, 
and  thence  to  Hamburg,  ne.ir  the  mouth  of  the  Elbe,  which 
was,  even  then,  an  important  maritime  town.  They  then 
turned  their  steps  towards  Amsterdam.  As  soon  as  they 
reached  Emmeric,  on  the  Rhine,  the  tzar,  im2Jatient  of  the 
slow  progress  of  the  embassage,  forsook  his  companions,  and 
hiring  a  small  boat,  sailed  down  the  Rhine  and  proceeded  to 
Amsterdam,  reaching  that  city  fifteen  days  before  tlie  em- 
bassy. "  He  flew  through  the  city,"  says  one  of  the  annalists 
of  those  days,  "  like  lightning,"  and  proceeded  to  a  small  but 
active  sea-jjort  town  on  the  coast,  Zaandam.  The  first  person 
they  saw  here  was  a  man  fishing  from  a  small  skifl:',  at  a  short  dis- 
tance from  the  shore.  The  tzar,  who  was  dressed  like  a  com- 
mon Dutch  skipper,  in  a  red  jacket  and  white  linen  trowsers, 
hailed  the  man,  and  engaged  lodgings  of  him,  consisting  of 
two  small  rooms  with  a  loft  over  them,  and  an  adjoining  shed. 
Strangely  enough,  this  man,  whose  name  was  Kist,  had  been 
in  Russia  working  as  a  smith,  and  he  knew  the  tzar.  He  was 
sliiclly  enjoined  on  no  account  to  let  it  be  known  who  his 
lodger  was. 

A  group  soon  gathered  around  the  strangers,  with  many 
questions.  Peter  told  them  that  they  were  carpenters  and 
laborers  from  a  foreign  country  in  search  of  work.  But  no 
one  believed  this,  for, the  attendants  of  the  tzar  still  wore  the 
rich  robes  which  constituted  the  costume  of  Russia.     With 


PETER     TUE     GREAT.  319 

sympathy  as  beautiful  as  it  is  rare,  Peter  calletl  upon  several 
families  of  ship  carpenters  who  had  worked  for  him  and  with 
him  at  Archangel,  and  to  some  of  these  families  he  gave  valu- 
able presents,  which  he  said  that  the  tzar  of  Russia  had  sent 
to  them.  He  clothed  himself,  and  ordered  his  companions  to 
clothe  themselves,  in  the  ordinary  dress  of  the  dockyard,  and 
purchasing  carpenters'  tools  they  all  went  vigorously  to  work. 

The  next  day  was  the  Sabbath.  The  arrival  of  these 
strangers,  so  peculiar  in  aspect  and  conduct,  was  noised 
abroad,  and  when  Peter  awoke  in  the  morning  he  was  greatly 
annoyed  by  finding  a  large  crowd  assembled  befoi  e  his  door. 
Indeed  the  rumor  of  the  Russian  embassage,  and  that  the  tzar 
himself  was  to  accompany  it,  had  already  reached  Amsterdam, 
and  it  was  shrewdly  suspected  that  these  strangers  were  in 
some  way  connected  with  the  expected  arrival  of  the  embas- 
sadors. One  of  tlie  barbers  in  Amsterdam  had  received  from 
a  ship  carpenter  in  Archangel  a  portrait  of  the  tzar,  mIucIi  had 
been  for  some  time  hanging  in  his  shop.  He  was  with  the 
crowd  around  the  door.  The  moment  his  eye  rested  upon 
Peter,  he  exclaimed,  with  astonishment,  "  that  is  the  t?:ar  j'" 
His  form,  features  and  character  were  all  so  marked  that  he 
could  not  easily  be  mistaken. 

No  further  efforts  were  made  at  concealment,  though 
Peter  was  often  very  much  annoyed  by  the  crowds  who  fol- 
lowed his  footsteps  and  watclied  all  his  actions.  He  was  ])er- 
suaded  to  change  his  lodgings  to  more  suitable  apartments, 
though  he  still  wore  his  workman's  dress  and  toiled  in  the 
shij^-yard  with  energy,  and  alst>  with  skill  which  no  one  could 
surpass.  The  extraordinary  rapidity  of  his  motions  astonished 
and  amused  the  Dutcii.  "Such  running,  jumping  and  clam- 
bering over  the  shij)ping,"  they  said,  "  we  never  witnessed 
before."     To  the  i)aliiar(:h  in  3Ioscow  he  wrote, 

"  I  am  living  in  obedience  to  the  connnands  of  God,  which 
were  spoken  to  father  Adam  :  '•In  the  sioeat  of  thy  brow  shall 
thou  eat  thy  bread.'' " 


320  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

Very  many  anecdotes  are  related  of  Peter  during  this  por- 
tion of  his  life,  which,  thougli  they  may  be  apochryphal,  are 
very  characteiistic  of  liis  eccentric  nature.  At  one  time  he 
visited  a  celebrated  iron  manufactoiy,  and  forged  himself 
several  bars  of  iron,  directing  his  companions  to  assist  him  in 
the  capacity  of  jonrneymen  blacksmiths.  Upon  the  bars  he 
forged,  he  put  his  own  mark,  and  then  he  demanded  of  Mai- 
ler, the  proprietor,  payment  for  his  work,  at  the  same  rate 
he  paid  other  workmen.  Having  I'cceived  eighteen  altins,  he 
said,  looking  at  the  patched  shoes  on  his  feet, 

"  This  M'ill  serve  me  to  buy  a  pair  of  shoes,  of  which  I 
stand  in  great  need.  I  have  earned  them  well,  by  the  sweat 
of  my  brow,  with  hammer  and  anvil." 

When  the  embassadors  entered  Amsterdam,  Peter  thought 
it  pi'oper  to  take  a  part  in  the  procession,  which  was  ananged 
in  the  highest  style  of  magniticence.  The  three  embassadors 
rode  first,  followed  by  a  long  train  of  carriages,  with  servants 
in  rich  livery  on  foot.  The  tzar,  dressed  as  a  private  gentle- 
man, was  in  one  of  the  last  carriages  in  the  train  of  his  em- 
bassadors. The  eyes  of  the  populace  searched  for  him  in 
vain.  From  this  fete  he  returned  eagerly  to  his  work,  with 
saw,  hammer  and  adz,  at  Zaandam.  Pie  persisted  in  living 
tike  the  rest  of  the  workmen,  rising  early,  building  his  own 
lire,  and  often  cooking  his  own  meals.  One  of  the  inhabitants 
of  Zaandam  thus  describes  his  appearance  at  that  time  : 

"The  tzar  is  very  tall  and  robust,  quick  and  nimble  of 
foot,  dexterous  and  rapid  in  all  his  actions.  His  fice  is  plump 
and  round  ;  lierce  in  his  look,  witli  brown  eyebrows,  and  short, 
curly  hair  of  a  brownish  color.  He  is  quick  in  his  gait,  swing- 
ing his  ai-ms,  and  holding  in  one  of  them  a  cane." 

The  Dutch  were  so  much  interested  in  him,  that  a  regular 
diary  was  kept  in  Zaandam  of  all  he  said  and  did.  Those 
who  were  in  daily  intercourse  with  him  preserved  a  memoran- 
dum of  all  that  occurred.  He  was  generally  called  by  the 
name  of  Master  Peter.     While  hard  at  work  in  the  ship-yard, 


PETER     THE     GREAT,  321 

he  received  intelligence  of  troubles  in  Poland.  The  renowned 
king,  John  Sobieski,  died  in  1696.  The  electors  were  divitled 
in  the  choice  of  a  successor.  Augustus  11.,  Elector  of  Saxony, 
by  means  of  bribes  and  his  army,  dbtaiiied  the  vote.  But 
there  was  gieat  dissatisfaction,  and  a  large  party  of  the  na- 
tion rallied  around  the  prince  of  Conti,  the  rival  candidate. 
Peter,  learning  these  facts,  immediately  sent  word,  from  his 
carpenter's  shop,  to  Augustus,  offering  to  send  an  army  of 
thirty  tliousand  men  to  his  assistance.  He  frequently  went 
from  Zaandam  to  Amsterdam,  to  attend  tlie  anatomical  lec- 
tures of  the  celebrated  Ruisch.  His  thirst  for  knowledge  ap- 
peared to  be  universal  and  insatiable.  He  even  performed, 
himself,  several  suigical  operations.  He  also  studied  natural 
philosophy  under  Witsen.  Most  minds  would"  have  been  be- 
wildered by  such  a  multiplicity  of  employments,  but  his  men- 
tal organization  was  of  that  peculiar  class  which  grasps  and 
retains  all  within  its  reach.  He  worked  at  the  forge,  in  the 
rope-walks,  at  the  sawing  mills,  and  in  the  manufactures  for 
wire  drawing,  making  paper  and  extracting  oil. 

While  at  Zaandam,  Peter  finished  a  sixty  gun  ship,  upon 
which  he  had  worked  dihgently  from  the  laying  of  the  1  '. 
As  the  Kussians  tlien  had  no  harbor  in  the  Baltic,  this  <.ii|) 
was  sent  to  Archangel,  on  the  shores  of  the  White  Sea. 
Peter  also  engaged  a  large  number  of  French  refugees,  and 
Swiss  and  German  artists,  to  enter  his  service  and  sent  them 
to  Moscow.  Whenever  he  found  a  mechanic  whose  work 
testified  to  superior  skill,  he  would  secure  him  at  almost  any 
[))'ice  and  send  him  to  Moscow.  To  geography  he  devoted 
great  attention,  and  even  then  (h-viscd  the,  plan  of  uniting  the 
Caspian  and  the  Black  Sea  by  a  ship  canal. 

Early  in  Jamiary,  1608,  Peter,  having  passed  nine  mouths 
at  Zaandam,  left  for  the  Hague.  King  William  Hf.  sent  his 
yacht  to  the  Hague,  to  convey  tlie  tzar  to  England,  with  :i 
convoy  of  two  ships  of  war.  Peter  left  the  Hague  nn  the 
18th  of  Januai-y,  and  arrived  in  London  on  th(>  21st.    Thoiigh 

14* 


322  THE     KM  PIKE      OF     RUSSIA. 

he  attempted  here  no  secrecy  as  to  liis  rank,  he  requested  to 
be  treated  only  as  a  private  gentleman.  A  large  mansion  was 
engaged  for  him,  near  the  royal  navy  yard  at  Deptford,  a 
small  town  upon  the  Thames,  about  four  miles  from  London. 
The  London  Postman,  one  of  the  leading  metropolitan  jour- 
nals of  that  day,  thus  announces  this  extraordinary  visit: 

"  The  tzar  of  Muscovy,  desiring  to  raise  the  glory  of  his 
nation,  and  avenge  the  Christians  of  all  the  injuries  they  have 
received  from  the  Turks,  has  abrogated  the  Avild  manners  of 
his  predecessors,  and  having  concluded,  from  the  behavior  of 
liis  engineers  and  officers,  who  were  sent  him  by  the  Elector  of 
Brandenburg,  that  the  western  nations  of  Europe  understood 
the  art  of  war  better  than  others,  he  resolved  to  take  a  journey 
thither,  and  not  wholly  to  rely  upon  the  relations  which  his 
embassadors  might  give  him;  and,  at  the  same  lime,  to  send 
a  great  number  of  his  nobility  into  those  parts  through  which 
lie  did  not  intend  to  travel,  that  he  might  have  a  complete 
idea  of  the  affairs  of  Europe,  and  enrich  his  subjects  with  the 
arts  of  all  other  Christian  nations ;  and  as  navigation  is  the 
most  useful  invention  that  ever  was  yet  found  out,  he  seems 
to  have  chosen  it  as  his  own  part  in  the  general  inquiry  he  is 
about.  His  design  is  certainly  very  noble,  and  discovers  the 
greatness  of  liis  genius.  But  the  model  he  has  proposed  him- 
self to  imitate  is  a  convincing  proof  of  his  extraordinary  judg- 
ment; for  what  other  prince,  in  the  world,  was  a  fitter  pattern 
for  the  great  Emperor  of  Muscovy,  than  William  the  Third, 
King  of  Great  Britain  ?"* 

In  London  and  Deptford  Peter  followed  essentially  the 
same  mode  of  life  which  he  had  adopted  in  Amsterdam.  There 
was  not  a  single  article  belonging  to  a  ship,  from  the  casting 
of  a  cannon  to  the  making  of  cables,  to  which  he  did  not  de- 
vote special  attention.  lie  also  devoted  some  time  to  watch 
making.  A  number  of  English  artificers,  and  also  several  liter 
ary  and  scientific  gentlemen  from  England,  were  taken  into 

*  Postman.  No.  417. 


P  K  T  K  K     THE     GREAT.  325 

his  service.  He  made  arrangements  with  a  distinguished 
Scotch  geometrician  and  two  mathematicians  from  Christ 
Church  hospital,  to  remove  to  Moscow,  who  laid  the  founda- 
tion in  Russia  of  the  Marine  Academy.  To  astronomy,  the 
calculation  of  eclipses,  and  the  laws  of  gravitation  he  devoted 
much  thought,  guided  by  the  most  scientific  men  England 
could  then  produce.  Perry,  an  English  engineer,  was  sent  to 
Russia  to  survey  a  route  for  a  ship  canal  from  the  ocean  to  the 
Caspian  and  from  the  Caspian  to  the  Black  Sea.  A  company 
of  merchants  paid  tlic  tzar  seventy-tive  thousand  dollars  for 
permission  to  import  tobacco  into  Russia.  The  sale  of  this 
narcotic  had  heretofore  been  discouraged  in  Russia,  by  the 
church,  as  demoralizuig  in  its  tendency  and  inducing  untidy 
habits.  Peter  was  occasionally  induced  to  attend  the  theater, 
but  he  had  no  relish  tor  that  amusement.  He  visited  the  vari- 
ous churches  and  observed  the  mode  of  conducting  religions 
worship  by  the  several  sects. 

Before  leaving  England  the  tzar  was  entertained  by  King 
William  with  the  spectacle  of  a  sham  sea  fight.  In  this  scene 
Peter  was  in  his  element,  and  in  the  excess  of  his  delight  he 
declared  that  an  English  admiial  must  be  a  happier  man  than 
even  the  tzar  of  Russia.  His  Britannic  majesty  made  his 
guest  also  a  present  of  a  beautiful  yacht,  called  the  Roynl 
Transport,  In  this  vessel  Peter  returned  to  Holland,  in  May, 
1698,  having  j^assed  four  months  in  England.  He  took  with 
liiin  quite  a  colony  of  emigrants,  consisting  of  three  captains 
of  men  of  war,  twenty-live  cajitains  of  merchant  shi2:)S,  forty 
lieutenants,  thirty  pilots,  thirty  surgeons,  two  hundred  and 
fifty  gunners,  and  three  hundred  artilicers.  These  men  irom 
Holland  sailed  in  the  Royal  Transport  to  Archangel,  from 
whence  they  wore  sent  to  ditfiiient  jjlaces  wliere  their  servici'S 
were  needed.  The  officers  whom  tiui  tzar  sent  to  Italy,  also 
led  back  to  Russia  many  artists  from  that  countiy. 

From  Holland  tlu-  j^^nperor  of  Russiii,  with  his  suite,  re- 
paired to  Vienna  to  observe  the  militaiy  disci})line  of  the  Ger- 


.S2  i  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

mans,  who  had  then  the  reputation  of  being  the  best  soldiers 
in  Europe.  He  also  wished  to  enter  into  a  closer  alliance  with 
the  Austrian  court  as  his  natural  ally  against  the  Turks.  Peter, 
however,  insisted  upon  laying  aside  all  the  ceremonials  of  roy- 
alty, and,  as  a  private  person,  held  an  interview  with  the  Em- 
peror Leopold. 

Nothing  of  especial  interest  occurred  during  the  brief  resi- 
dence of  Peter  in  Vienna.  The  Emperor  of  Germany  paid  the 
tzar  every  possible  attention  which  could  be  coni'erred  upon 
one  who  liad  the  strongest  reluctance  to  be  gazed  upon,  or  to 
take  part  in  any  parade.  For  the  amusement  of  the  tzar  the 
emperor  revived  the  ancient  game  of  landlord.  The  royal 
game  is  as  follows.  The  emperor  is  landlord,  the  empress 
landlady,  the  heir  apparent  to  the  throne,  the  archdukes  and 
archduchesses  are  generally  their  assistants.  They  entertain 
people  of  all  nations,  dressed  after  the  most  ancient  fashion  of 
their  respective  countries.  The  invited  guests  draw  lots  for 
tickets,  on  each  of  which  is  written  the  name  or  the  nation  of 
the  character  they  are  to  represent.  One  is  a  Chinese  man- 
darin, another  a  Persian  mirza,  another  a  Roman  senator.  A 
queen  perhaps  represents  a  dairy  maid  or  a  nursery  girl.  A 
king  or  prince  represents  a  miller,  a  peasant  or  a  soldier. 
Characteristic  amusements  are  introduced.  The  landlord  and 
landlady,  with  their  family,  wait  upon  the  table. 

On  this  occasion  the  emperor's  eldest  son,  Joseph,  who 
was  the  heir  apparent,  represented,  with  the  Countess  of 
Traun,  the  ancient  Egyptians,  His  brother,  the  Archduke 
Charles,  and  the  Countess  of  Walstein  appeared  as  Flemings 
in  the  reign  of  Charles  V.  His  sister  Mary  and  Count  Fraun 
were  Tartars.  Josepliine,  another  daughter  of  Leopold,  with 
the  Count  of  Workia,  represented  Pei-sians.  Marianne,  a 
third  daughter,  and  Prince  Maximilian  of  Hanover  were  North 
Holland  j)easants.  Peter  presented  himself  as  a  Friesland 
boor,  a  character,  we  regret  to  say,  which  the  tzar  could  per- 
sonify without  making  the  slightest  change  in  his  usual  habits. 


PETER     THE     GKEAT.  325 

for  Peter  was  quite  a  stranger  to  the  graces  of  the  polished 
gentleman. 

This  game  seems  to  have  been  quite  a  favorite  in  the  Aus- 
trian court.  Maria  Antoinette  introduced  it  to  Versailles. 
The  tourist  is  still  shown  the  dairy  where  that  unhappy  queen 
made  butter  and  cheese,  the  mill  where  Louis  XVI.  ground 
his  grist,  and  the  mimic  village  tavern  where  the  Khig  and 
Queen  of  France,  as  landlord  and  landlady,  received  theii 
guests. 

Peter  was  just  leaving  Vienna  to  go  to  Venice  when  he 
received  intelligence  that  a  rebellion  had  broken  out  in  Mos- 
cow. His  ambitious  sister  Sophia,  who  had  been  placed  with 
a  shaven  head  in  the  cloisters  of  a  monastery,  took  advantage 
of  the  tzai''s  absence  to  make  another  attempt  to  regain  the 
crown.  She  represented  tliat  the  nation  was  in  danger  of 
being  overrun  witli  foreigners,  that  their  ancient  customs 
would  all  be  abolished,  and  tliat  their  religion  would  be  sub- 
verted. She  involved  several  of  the  clergy  in  her  plans,  and 
a  band  of  eight  thousand  insurgents  were  assembled,  wlio 
commenced  their  march  towards  Moscow,  hoping  to  rouse  the 
metropolis  to  unite  with  them.  General  Gordon,  whom  Peter 
had  left  in  command  of  the  royal  guard,  met  them,  and  a  bat- 
tle ensued  in  which  a  large  number  of  the  insurgents  were 
slain,  and  the  I'est  were  taken  prisoners  and  conducted  to  the 
capital.  Hearing  these  tidings  Peter  abandoned  all  plans  for 
visiting  Italy,  and  set  out  impetuously  for  Moscow,  and  arrived 
at  the  Kicmlin  before  it  was  known  that  he  had  left  Germany. 

Peter  was  a  rougli,  stern  man,  and  he  determined  to  juniish 
tiie  abettors  of  this  rebellion  with  sL'Verity,  u  iiicii  should  appidl 
all  the  discontented.  General  Gordt)n,  in  the  battle,  had  slain 
three  thousand  of  tlie  insurgents  and  had  taken  live  thousand 
(!aptive.  These  prisoners  he  had  ijunished,  decimating  them 
by  lot  and  hanging  every  tenth  man.  l*eter  rewarded  mag- 
nilicently  the  royal  guard,  and  then  commenced  the  terrible 
chastisement  of  all  who  were  judged  guilty  of  synipathi/.inL;  in 


326  THE     EMPIRE      OP     RUSSIA. 

the  conspiracy.  Some  were  broken  on  the  wheel  and  then 
beheaded.  Others  were  hung  in  chahis,  on  gibbets  near  the 
gates  of  the  city,  and  left,  frozen  as  solid  as  marble,  to  swing 
in  the  wind  through  the  long  months  of  winter.  Stone  monu- 
ments were  erected,  on  which  were  engraved  the  names,  the 
crimes  and  the  punishment  of  the  rebels.  A  large  number 
were  banished  to  Siberia,  to  Astrachan,  and  to  the  shores  of 
the  Sea  of  Azof  The  entire  corps  of  the  strelUzes  was  abol- 
ished, and  their  place  supplied  by  the  new  guard,  marshaled 
and  disciplined  on  the  model  of  the  German  troops.  The  long 
and  cumbersome  robes  which  had  been  in  fashion  were  ex- 
changed for  a  uniform  better  adapted  for  rapid  motion.  The 
sons  of  the  nobles  were  compelled  to  serve  in  the  ranks  as 
conmion  soldiers  before  they  could  be  pi'omoted  to  be  officers. 
Many  of  the  young  nobles  were  sent  to  the  tzar's  fleet  in  the 
Sea  of  x\2of  to  serve  their  apprenticeship  for  the  navy.  The 
revenue  of  the  empire  had  thus  far  been  raised  by  the  pay- 
ment of  a  stipulated  sum  from  each  noble  according  to  liis 
amount  of  land.  The  noble  collected  this  sum  from  his  vassals 
or  bondmen;  but  they  often  failed  of  paying  in  the  amount 
demanded.  Peter  took  now  the  collection  of  the  revenue  into 
bis  own  hands,  appointing  officers  for  that  purpose. 

Reforms  in  the  church  he  also  undertook.  The  patriarch, 
Adrian,  who  was  the  pope  of  the  Greek  church,  dying  about 
tliis  time,  Peter  declared  that  he  should  have  no  successor. 
V^irtually  assuming  the  authority  of  the  head  of  the  church,  he 
gathered  the  immense  revenues  of  the  patriarchal  see  into  the 
royal  treasury.  Though  professedly  intrusting  the  govern- 
ment of  the  church  to  the  bishops,  he  controlled  them  with 
despotism  which  could  brook  no  opposition.  Anxious  to  pro- 
mote the  population  of  his  vast  empire,  so  sparsely  inhabited, 
he  caused  a  decree  to  be  issued,  that  all  the  clergy,  of  every 
grade,  should  be  married  ;  and  that  whenever  one  of  the 
clergy  lost  a  wife  his  clerical  functions  sliould  cease  until  lie 
obtained  another.     Regarding  the  monastic  vow,  which  con- 


PETER     TUE     GEEAT.  327 

signed  young  men  and  voung  women  to  a  life  of  indolence  in 
the  cloister,  a^^  alike  injurious  to  morality  and  to  the  interests  of 
the  State,  lie  forbade  any  one  from  taking  that  vow  until  after 
the  age  of  Hfty  had  been  passed.  This  salutary  regulation  has 
since  his  time  been  I'epealed. 

The  year,  in  Russia,  had  for  ages  commenced  with  the  1st 
of  September.  Peter  ordered  that,  in  conformity  with  the 
custom  in  the  rest  of  Europe,  the  year  should  commence  with 
the  1st  of  January.  This  alteration  took  place  in  the  year 
1700,  and  was  celebrated  with  the  most  imposing  solemnities. 
The  national  dress  of  the  Russians  was  a  long  flowing  robe, 
which  required  no  skill  in  cutting  or  making.  Razors  were 
also  scarce,  and  every  man  wore  his  beard.  The  tzar  ordered 
long  robes  and  beards  to  be  laid  aside.  No  man  was  admitted 
to  the  palace  without  a  neatly  shaven  face.  Throughout  the 
empire  a  penalty  was  imposed  upon  any  one  who  persisted  in 
"Wearing  his  beard.  A  smooth  face  thus  became  in  Russia, 
and  has  contitmed,  to  the  present  day,  the  badge  of  culture 
and  refinement.  Peter  also  inti"oduced  social  parties,  to  which 
ladies  with  their  daughters  were  invited,  dressed  in  the  fash- 
ions of  southern  Europe. 

Heretofore,  whenever  aRussian  addressed  the  tzar,  he  always 
said,  "  Your  slaoe  begs,"  etc.  Peter  abolished  this  word,  and 
ordered  stibject  to  be  used  instead.  Public  inns  were  estab- 
lished on  the  highways,  and  relays  of  horses  for  the  convenience 
of  travelers..  Conscious  of  the  power  of  sj)lendor  to  awe  the 
public  mind,  he  added  very  considerably  to  the  magniiicence 
of  liis  court,  and  instituted  an  order  of  knighthood.  In  all 
tliese  measures  Peter  wielded  the  energies  of  an  unrelenting 
despotism,  and  yet  of  a  despotism  which  was  const.mtly  de- 
voted, not  to  his  own  personal  aggrandizement,  but  to  the  wel- 
fare of  his  country. 

The  tzar  established  his  great  ship-yard  atVoronise,  on  the 
Don,  from  which  place  he  could  float  his  ships  down  to  the  Sea 
of  Azof,  hoping  to  establish  there  a  fleet   which  would  soor 


328  THE    em:  PI  RE    of    Russia. 

give  him  the  command  of  tlie  Black  Sea.  In  March,  1699,  he 
had  thirty-six  ships  launched  and  rigged,  carrying  each  from 
thirty  to  sixty  guns  ;  and  there  were  then  twenty  more  ships 
on  tiie  stocks.  There  were,  also,  either  finished  or  in  process 
of  construction,  eighteen  large  galleys,  one  hundred  smaller 
brigantines,  seven  bomb  ships  and  four  fire  ships.  At  the 
same  time  Peter  was  directing  his  attention  to  the  Volg.'?,  and 
the  Caspian,  and  still  more  vigorously  to  the  Baltic,  upon 
whose  shores  he  had  succeeded  in  obtaining  a  foothold. 

And  now  the  kingdom  of  Sweden  came,  with  a  rush,  into 
the  political  arena.  Poland  had  ceded  to  Sweden  neaily  the 
whole  of  Livonia.  The  Livonians  were  very  ranch  dissatisfied 
with  the  administration  of  the  government  under  Charles  XI., 
and  sent  a  deputation  to  Stockholm  to  present  respectful  re- 
monstrances. The  indignant  king  consigned  all  of  the  depu- 
tation, consisthig  of  eiglit  gentlemen,  to  prison,  and  condemned 
the  leader,  John  Patgul,  to  an_  ignominious  death.  Patgul 
escaped  fi-om  prison,  and  hastening  to  Poland,  urged  the  new 
sovereign,  Augustus,  to  reconquer  the  province  of  Livonin, 
which  Poland  had  lost,  assuring  him  the  Livonians  would  aid 
with  all  their  energies  to  throw  ofl:'  the  Swedish  yoke.  Pat- 
gul hastened  from  Poland  to  Moscow,  and  urged  Peter  to 
unite  with  Augustus,  in  a  war  against  Sweden,  assuring  him 
that  thus  he  could  easily  regain  the  provinces  of  Ingria  and 
Carelia,  which  Sweden  had  wrested  from  his  ancestors.  Den- 
mark also,  undei-  its  new  sovereign,  Frederic  IV.,  was  induced 
to  enter  into  the  alliance  with  Russia  and  Poland  against  Swe- 
den. Just  at  that  time,  Charles  XL  died,  and  his  son,  Charles 
XII.,  a  young  man  of  eighteen,  ascended  the  throne.  The 
youth  and  inexperience  of  the  new  monarch  encom-aged  the 
allies  in  the  hope  that  they  might  make  an  easy  conquest- 
Charles  XII.,  a  man  of  indomitable,  of  maniacal  energy,  and 
who  speedily  infused  into  his  soldiers  his  own  spirit,  came 
down  upon  Denmark  like  northern  wolves  into  southern  flocks 
HW']  herds.     In  less  than  six  weeks  the  war  was  terminated 


PETER     THE      GREAT.  329 

ami  the  Danes  thoionglily  humbled.  Then  with  his  fleet  of 
thirty  sail  of  the  line  and  a  vast  mimher  of  trans] )orts,  lie 
crossed  the  Baltic,  entered  tlie  Gulf  of  Finhuid,  and  marchiiiu^ 
uvcj-  ice  and  snow  encountered  the  Russians  at  Narva,  a  small 
town  about  eighty  miles  south-west  of  the  present  site  of  the 
city  of  St.  Petersbuig,  The  Russians  were  drawn  up  eighty 
thousand  strong,  behind  intrenchments  lined  with  one  hundred 
and  forty-live  pieces  of  artillery  ;  Charles  XII.  had  but  nine 
thousand  men.  Takuig  advantage  of  one  of  the  liercest  of 
winti-y  storms,  which  blew  directly  into  the  faces  of  the  Rus- 
sians, smothering  them  with  snow  and  sleet  mingled  with 
smoke,  and  wdiich  concealed  both  the  numbers  and  tlxi  move- 
ments of  the  Swedes,  Charles  XII.  hurled  his  battalions  with 
such  impetuosity  upon  the  foe,  that  in  less  tlian  an  hour  tlie 
camp  was  taken  by  storm.  One  of  the  most  awful  routs  known 
in  tiie  annals  of  war  ensued.  The  Swedes  toiled  to  utter  ex- 
haustion in  cutting  down  the  flying  fugitives.  Tiiirty  thou- 
sand Russians  perished  on  that  bloody  Held.  Nearly  all  of  the 
remainder  were  taken  ca})tive,  with  all  their  artillery.  Dis- 
armed and  with  uncovered  heads,  tiiiity  thousand  of  these 
prisoners  defiled  before  the  victorious  king,* 

Peter,  the  day  before  this  disastrous  battle,  had  left  the  in- 
trenchments at  Narva  to  go  to  Novgorod,  ostensibly  to  hasten 
forward  the  march  of  some  reinforcements.  When  Peter  was 
informed  of  the  annihilation  of  his  army  he  replied,  with  cha- 
racttri^tic  coolness, 

"  I  know  very  well  that  the  Swedes  will  have  the  advan- 
tage of  us  for  a  considerable  time  ;  but  they  will  teach  us,  at 
length,  to  beat  them." 

He  immediately  collected  the  fragments  of  his  army  at 
Novgorod,  and   re[niiring  to  Moscow  issued  orders  for  a  cer- 

*  Tliese  are  the  numbers  as  accurately  as  tboy  can  now  bo  ascertainoil  by 
the  most  careful  sifting  of  the  contradictory  acootiiits.  The  forces  of  the  Rua- 
Kians  have  been  variouHly  estimated  at  from  forty  thousand  t«  one  him<lred 
thousand.     That  the  Swedes  had  but  niue  thousand  is  admitted  on  all  hands- 


330  THE     EMPIKE      OF     RUSSIA. 

tain  proportion  of  the  bells  of  tlie  cliurclies  and  convents 
throughout  tlie  empire  to  be  cast  into  cannon  and  mortars. 
In  a  few  months  one  hundred  pieces  of  cannon  for  sieges,  and 
forty-two  field  pieces,  with  twelve  mortars  and  thirteen  how- 
itzers, were  sent  to  the  army,  which  was  rapidly  being  ren- 
dezvoused at  jSTovgorod. 

Charles  XII.,  having  struck  this  terrific  blow,  left  the  tzar 
to  recover  as  best  he  could,  and  turned  his  attention  to  Po- 
land, resolved  to  hurl  Augustus  from  the  throne.  Peter  him- 
self hurried  to  Poland  to  encourage  Augustus  to  the  most 
vigorous  prosecution  of  the  war,  promising  to  send  him  speed- 
ily twenty  thousand  troops.  In  the  midst  of  these  disasters 
and  turmoil,  the  tzar  continued  to  prosecute  his  plans  for  the 
internal  improvement  of  his  empire,  and  commenced  the  vast 
enter]3rise  of  digging  a  canal  which  should  unite  the  waters 
of  the  Baltic  with  the  Caspian,  first,  by  connecting  the  Don 
with  the  Volga,  and  then  by  connecting  the  Don  Avith  the 
Dwina,  w  hich  empties  into  the  Baltic  near  Riga, 

War  continued  to  rage  very  fiercely  for  many  months  be- 
tween the  Swedes  on  one  side,  and  Russia  and  Poland  on  the 
other,  Charles  XII.  gainnig  almost  constant  victories.  The 
Swedes  so  signally  proved  their  superiority  in  these  conflicts, 
that  when,  on  one  occnsion,  eight  thousand  Russians  repulsed 
four  thousand  Swedes,  the  tzar  said, 

"Well,  we  have  at  last  beaten  the  Swedes,  when  we  Avere 
two  to  one  against  them.  We  shall  by  and  by  be  able  to  fiice 
them  man  to  man." 

In  these  conflicts,  it  was  the  constar.t  aim  of  Peter  to  get 
a  foothold  upon  the  shores  of  the  Baltic,  that  he  might  open 
to  his  empire  the  advantages  of  commerce,  lie  launched  a 
large  fleet  upon  Lake  Ladoga,  a  large  inland  sea,  which,  by 
the  i-iver  Neva,  connects  with  the  Gulf  of  Finland.  The 
fleets  of  Sweden  penetrated  these  remote  watei's,  and  for 
months  their  solitudes  resounded  with  the  roar  of  naval  con- 
llicts.     We  can  not  refrain  from  recordins:  the  heroic  conduct 


PETEK     THE     GKEAT.  331 

of  Colonel  Schlippenbucli,  the  Swedish  commander  of  the 
town  of  XolteLiug,  on  this  lake.  The  town  was  invested  by 
a  hirge  Russian  army.  For  a  montli  tlie  Russians  battered  the 
town  niglit  and  day,  until  it  presented  the  aspect  of  a  pile  of 
ruins,  and  the  garrison  was  reduced  to  one  hundred  men. 
Yet,  so  indomitable  was  this  little  band,  that,  standing  in  the 
bi'eaches,  they  extorted  honorable  terms  of  capitulation  from 
their  conqueror.  They  would  not  surrender  but  on  condition 
of  being  allowed  to  send  for  two  Swedish  officers,  who  should 
examine  their  remaining  means  of  defense,  and  inform  their 
master,  Charles  XII.,  that  it  was  impossible  for  them  any 
longer  to  preserve  the  town. 

Peter  was  a  man  of  too  strong  sense  to  be  elated  and  vain- 
glorious in  view  of  such  success.  He  knew  full  well  that 
Charles  XII.,  since  the  battle  of  Narva,  looked  with  uttei 
contempt  ujion  the  Russian  soldiers,  aad  he  was  himself  fu.lly 
conscious  of  the  vast  superiority  of  the  Swedish  trooi)s.  But 
while  Charles  XII.,  with  a  mouarch's  energies,  was  battering 
down  the  fortresses  and  cutting  to  ])ieces  the  armies  of  Po- 
land, Peter  had  gained  several  victories  over  small  delach- 
meuls  of  Swedish  troops  left  in  Russia.  To  inspire  his  soldiers 
with  more  confidence,  he  ordered  a  very  magnificent  celebra- 
tion of  these  victories  in  Moscow.  It  was  one  of  the  most 
gorgeous  fete  days  the  metropolis  had  ever  witnessed.  The 
Swedish  banners,  taken  in  several  conflicts  on  sea  and  land, 
were  borne  in  iront  of  the  procession,  while  all  the  prisoners, 
taken  in  the  campaign,  were  marched  in  humiliation  hi  the 
train  of  tlie  victors. 

While  thus  employed,  the  stern,  indefatigable  tzar  was 
pressing  forward  the  building  of  his  fleet  on  the  Don  for  the 
conquest  of  the  Black  Sea,  and  was  tmwearied  in  his  (Mideav- 
ors  to  })iom<)tc  llie  elevation  of  his  still  scmi-liarbai-ic  icahns, 
l>)  the  introduction  of  the  sciences,  the  arts,  the  manufactures 
and  the  social  refinements  of  southern  Europe. 


CHAPTER    XX  . 

CONQUESTS   AND   ACHIEVEMENTS   OP   PETER  THE    GREAT. 
From  IT 02  to  1718. 

Peter  takes  Lake  Ladoga  and  the  Neva. — Foundation  of  St.  Petersburo. Con- 
quest of   LiVONTA. — .MaIUEXUURG    TAKES    BY    StOR.M.— ThE  E.MPRBSS  CaTH AEIME.— 

Extraordinary  Efforts  in  Bi  ildinu  St.  Petersburg. — Threat  of  Charles  XIL 
— Deposition  of  Augustus.  — Enthronement  of  Stanislaus. — Battle  of  Pul- 
towa. — Flight  op  Charles  XII  to  Turkey. — Increased  Kenown  of  Russia. — 
Disastrous  Conflict  with  the  Turks. — Marriage  of  Alexis. — His  Character. 
— Death  of  his  Wife. — The  E.mpress  Acknowledged. — Conquest  of  Finland.^ 
Tour  of  tub  Tzak  to  Southern  Europe. 

(CHARLES  XIL,  despising  the  Russians,  devoted  all  bis 
^  energies  to  tlie  liuniiliation  of  Augustus  of  Poland,  re- 
solving to  puisne  liini  until  he  had  driven  hiin  for  ever  from 
his  tluone.  Peter  was  thus  enabled  to  get  the  command  of 
the  lake  of  Ladoga,  and  of  the  river  Neva,  which  comiects 
that  lake  with  the  Baltic.  He  immediately  laid  the  founda- 
tions of  a  city,  St.  Petersburg,  to  be  his  great  commercial  em- 
porium, at  the  mouth  of  the  Neva,  near  the  head  of  the  Gulf 
of  Finland.  The  laud  was  low  and  marshy,  but  in  other 
respects  the  location  was  admirable.  Its  approaches  could 
easily  be  defended  against  any  naval  attack,  and  water  com- 
munications were  opened  with  the  interior  through  the  Neva 
and  lake  Ladoga. 

Livonia  was  a  large  province,  about  the  size  of  the  State 
of  Maine,  nearly  encircled  by  the  Gulf  of  Riga,  the  Baltic, 
the  Gulf  of  Finland  and  Lake  Tchude.  The  possession  of  this 
province,  wliich  contained  some  five  hundred  thousand  in- 
habitants, was  essential  to  Peter  in  the  prosecution  of  his 
commercial  enterprises.     During  the  p)rosecution  of  this  war 


CONQUESTS      AND      ACHIEVEMENTS.  333 

the  small  town  of  Marienburg,  on  the  contines  of  Livonia,  sit- 
uated on  the  shores  of  a  lake,  was  taken  by  stoi-in.  The  town 
was  utterly  destroyed  and  nearly  all  the  inhabitants  slain,  a 
few  only  being  taken  prisoners.  The  Russian  comniandnig 
officer  saw  among  these  captives  a  young  girl  of  extraordinary 
beauty,  who  was  weeping  bitterly.  Attracted  by  such  rare 
loveliness  and  uncontrollable  grief  he  called  her  to  him,  and 
learned  from  her  that  she  was  born  in  a  village  in  the  vicinity 
on  the  borders  of  the  lake;  that  she  had  never  known  her 
father,  and  that  her  mother  died  when  she  was  but  three 
years  of  age.  The  protestant  minister  of  Marienburg,  Dr. 
Gluck,  chancing  to  see  her  one  day,  and  ascertaining  that 
she  was  left  an  orphan  and  friendless,  received  her  into  his 
own  house,  and  cherished  her  w  ith  true  parental  tenderness. 

The  very  evening  before  the  town  of  Marienburg  was 
assaulted  and  taken  by  storm,  she  was  married  to  a  young 
Livonian  sergeant,  a  very  excellent  young  man,  of  reputable 
family  and  possessing  a  little  property.  In  the  horrors  of  the 
tempest  of  war  which  immediately  succeeded  the  nuptial 
ceremonies,  her  husband  was  slain,  and  as  his  body  could 
never  be  found,  it  probably  was  consumed  in  the  flames, 
which  laid  the  town  in  ashes.  General  Boyer,  moved  with 
comj)assion,  took  her  under  his  protection.  He  ascertained 
that  her  character  had  always  been  irreproachable,  and  he 
evei'  maintained  that  she  continued  to  be  a  pattern  of  virtue. 
She  was  but  seventeen  years  of  age  when  Peter  saw  her. 
Her  beauty  immediately  vancpiished  him.  His  wife  he  had 
repudiated  after  a  long  disagreement,  and  she  had  retired  to 
a  convent.  Peter  took  the  lovely  child,  still  a  child  in  years, 
under  his  own  care,  and  soon  privately  married  her,  with  how 
much  sacredness  of  nuptial  rites  is  not  now^  known.  Such 
was  the  early  history  of  Catharine,  who  subsequently  l)ecatne 
the  recognized  and  renowned  Empress  of  Russia. 

"That  a  poor  stranger,"  sjiys  Voltaire,  "who  ha<I  been 
discovered    amid   the    ruins  of  a,  plundered    town,  sliouM    he- 


334  THE      KM  PI  RE      OF      RUSSIA. 

come  the  absolute  sovereign  of  that  very  empire  into  wliich 
she  was  led  captive,  is  an  incident  which  fortune  and  merit 
have  never  before  produced  in  the  annals  of  the  world." 

The  city  of  Petersburg  was  founded  on  the  22d  of  May, 
1'703,  on  a  desert  and  marshy  spot  of  ground,  in  the  sixtieth 
degree  of  latitude.  The  first  building  was  a  fort  which  now 
stands  in  the  center  of  the  city.  Though  Peter  was  involved 
in  all  the  hui-ry  and  confusion  of  wai-,  he  devoted  himself  witli 
marvelous  energy  to  the  work  of  rearing  an  imperial  city 
ujion  the  bogs  and  tlie  swamps  of  the  Neva.  It  required  the 
merciless  vigor  of  despotism  to  accomplish  such  an  enterprise. 
Workmen  were  marched  by  thousands  from  Kesan,  from  As- 
trachan,  from  the  Ukraine,  to  assist  in  building, the  city.  No 
difficulties,  no  obstacles  Avere  allowed  to  impede  the  work. 
Tlie  tzar  had  a  low  hut,  built  of  plank,  just  sufficient  to  shel- 
ter him  from  the  weatlier,  where  he  superintended  the  ojjera- 
tions.  This  hut  is  still  preserved  as  one  of  the  curiosities  of 
St.  Petersbui-g.  In  less  than  a  year  thirty  thousand  houses 
were  reared,  and  these  were  all  crowded  by  the  many  thou- 
sands Peter  had  ordered  to  the  rising  city,  from  all  parts  of 
the  empire.  Death  made  terrible  ravages  among  them  ;  but 
the  remote  provinces  furnished  an  abundant  supply  to  fill  the 
places  of  the  dead.  Exposure,  toil,  and  the  insalubrity  of 
the  marshy  ground,  consigned  one  hundred  thousand  to  the 
grave  during  this  first  year. 

The  morass  had  to  be  drained,  and  the  ground  raised  by 
bringing  earth  from  a  distance.  Wheelbarrows  were  not  in 
use  there,  and  the  laborers  conveyed  the  earth  in  baskets, 
bags  and  even  in  the  skirts  of  their  c'othis,  scooping  it  up 
with  their  hands  and  with  wooden  paddles.  The  tzar  always 
manifested  great  respect  for  the  outward  observances  of  re- 
ligion, and  was  constant  in  his  attendance  upon  divine  service. 
As  we  have  mentioned,  the  first  building  the  tzar  erected  was 
a  fort,  the  second  was  a  church,  the  third  a  hotel.  In  the 
meantime  ])rivate  individiuils  were  busily  employed,  by  thou- 


CONQUESTS   AND  ACUIEVEMENTS.     3;?5 

sands,  in  putting  up  shops  and  bouses.  The  eily  of  Amsterdani 
was  essentially  the  model  upon  which  St.  Petersburg  was 
built.  The  wharves,  the  canals,  the  bridges  and  the  rectan- 
gular streets  lined  with  trees  were  arranged  by  arcliitects 
brought  froMi  the  Dutch  metropolis.  When  Charles  XII. 
Avas  informed  of  the  rapid  progress  the  tzar  was  nu\king  in 
building  a  city  on  the  banks  of  the  Neva,  he  said, 

"Let  him  amuse  himself  as  he  thinks  tit  in  building  his 
city.  I  sluiU  soon  find  time  to  take  it  from  him  and  to  put  his 
wooden  houses  in  a  blaze." 

Five  months  had  not  passed  away,  from  the  commencement 
of  operations  upon  these  vast  morasses  at  tlie  mouth  of  the 
Neva,  ere,  one  day,  it  was  reported  to  the  tzar  that  a  large 
ship  under  Dutch  colors  was  in  full  sail  entering  the  harbor. 
Peter  was  overjoyed  at  this  realization  of  the  dearest  wish  of 
his  heart.  With  ardor  he  set  off  to  meet  the  welcome  stran- 
ger. He  found  that  the  ship  had  been  sent  by  one  of  his  old 
friends  at  Zaandam.  The  cargo  consisted  of  salt,  wine  and 
provisions  generally.  The  cargo  was  landed  free  froni  all 
duties  and  was  speedily  sold  to  the  great  profit  of  the  owners. 
To  protect  his  capital,  Peter  immediately  commenced  his 
defenses  at  Cronstadt,  about  thirty  miles  down  the  bay. 
From  that  hour  until  this,  Russia  has  been  at  work  upon  those 
fortifications,  and  they  can  now  probably  bid  defiance  to  all 
the  navies  of  the  world. 

Charles  XII.,  sweeping  Poland  with  fire  and  the  sword, 
drove  Augustus  out  of  the  kingdom  to  his  liereditary  elector- 
ate of  Saxony,  and  then,  convening  the  Polish  nobles,  caused 
Stanislaus  Leczinsky,  one  of  his  own  followers,  to  be  elected 
sovereign,  and  sustained  him  on  the  throne  by  all  the  power  of 
tlie  Swedish  armies.*  The  Swedish  warrior  now  fitted  out  a 
fleet  for  the  destruction  of  Cronstadt  and  I'eteisburg.  The 
defense  of  tlie  province  was  intrusted  to  Menzikoff'.  This  man 
subsequently  j)asst;d  through  a  career  so  full  of  vicissitudes 
*  See  Empire  of  Austriii,  payo  382. 


336  THE      ElIPIEE      OF      RUSSIA. 

that  a  sketch  of  his  varied  life  thus  far  seems  important.  He 
Avas  the  son  of  one  of  tlie  liumblest  of  the  peasants  living  in 
the  vicinity  of  Moscow.  When  but  thirteen  years  of  age  he 
"svas  taken  into  the  service  of  a  pastry  cook  to  sell  pies  and 
cakes  about  the  streets,  and  he  was  accustomed  to  attract 
customers  by  singing  jocular  songs.  The  tzar  chanced  to  hear 
him  one  day,  and,  diverted  by  his  song  and  struck  by  his 
bright,  intelligent  appearance,  called  for  the  boy,  and  offered 
to  purchase  his  whole  stock,  both  cakes  and  basket. 

The  boy  replied, 

"  It  is  my  business  to  sell  the  cakes,  and  I  have  no  right 
to  sell  the  basket  without  my  master's  permission.  Yet,  as 
every  thing  belongs  to  our  prince,  your  majesty  has  only  to 
give  the  command,  and  it  is  my  duty  to  obey," 

This  adroit,  apt  answer  so  pleased  the  tzar  that  he  took 
tlie  lad  into  his  service,  giving  him  at  first  some  humble  em- 
ployment. But  being  daily  more  pleased  with  his  wit  and 
shrewdness,  he  raised  him,  step  by  step,  to  the  highest  pre- 
ferment. Under  the  tuition  of  General  Le  Fort,  he  attained 
great  skill  in  military  affairs,  and  became  one  of  the  bravest 
and  most  successful  of  the  Russian  generals. 

Early  in  the  s])ring  of  I'ZOS  the  Swedish  fleet,  consisting 
of  twenty-two  ships  of  war,  each  cari-ying  about  sixty  guns, 
besides  six  frigates,  two  bomb  ketches  and  two  fire  ships, 
ai)]>roached  Cronstadt,  At  the  same  time  a  large  number  of 
transports  landed  a  strong  body  of  troops  to  assail  the  forts  in 
the  rear.  This  was  the  most  formidable  attack  Charles  XII. 
had  yet  attempted  in  his  wars.  Though  the  Swedes  almost 
invariably  conquered  the  Russians  in  the  open  field,  Menzikoff, 
from  behind  his  well-constructed  redoubts,  beat  back  his  assail- 
ants, and  St.  Petersburg  was  saved.  The  sunnner  passed  away 
with  many  but  undecisive  batthis,  until  the  storms  of  the  long 
nortliern  winter  separated  the  combatants.  The  state  of  ex- 
asperation was  now  such  that  the  most  revolting  cruelties 
were  perpetrated  on  both  sides. 


CONQUESTS     AND      ACHIEVEMENTS.  33/ 

The  campaign  of  IVOG  opened  most  disastrously  to  Russia. 
In  four  successive  pitched  battles  the  forces  of  the  tzar  had 
been  defeated.  Augustus  was  humbled  to  the  dust,  and  was 
compelled  to  wi'ite  a  letter  to  Stanislaus  congratulating  him 
upon  his  accession  to  the  throne.  He  also  ignominiously  con- 
sented to  deliver  up  the  unfortunate  Livonian  noble,  Patgul, 
whose  only  crime  was  his  love  lor  the  rights  and  i^rivileges  of 
his  country.  Charles  XII.  caused  this  unhappy  noble  to  be 
broken  upon  the  wheel,  thus  inflicting  a  stain  upon  his  own 
character  which  can  never  be  efl:aced.  The  haughty  Swedish 
monarch  seemed  now  to  be  sovereign  over  all  of  northern 
Europe  exce])ting  llussia.  Augustus,  driven  from  the  throne 
of  Poland,  was  permitted  to  hold  the  electorate  of  Saxony 
only  in  consequence  of  his  abject  submission  to  Charles  XII. 
Stanislaus,  tin;  new  Polish  sovereign,  was  merely  a  vassal  of 
Swedeji.  And  even  the  Emperor  Joseph  of  Germany  paid 
implicit  ol)edience  to  the  will  of  a  monarch  who  had  such  ter 
rible  armies  at  his  command. 

Under  these  circumstances  some  of  the  powers  endeavored 
to  secure  peace  between  Sweden  and  Russia.  The  French 
envoy  at  the  court  of  Sweden  introduced  the  subject.  Charles 
XII.  proudly  replied,  "I  shall  treat  with  the  tzar  in  the  city 
of  Moscow." 

Peter,  being  informed  of  this  boast  and  threat,  remarked, 
"  My  brother  Charles  wants  to  act  the  part  of  Alexander,  but 
he  siiall  not  find  in  me  a  Darius." 

Charles  XII.,  from  his  triumphant  invasion  of  Saxony, 
marched  with  an  army  of  forty-live  thousand  men  through 
Poland,  which  was  vitterly  desolated  by  war,  and  crossing  the 
frontiers  of  Russia,  directed  his  m;ii-cli  to  Moscow.  Driving 
all  oj)positioii  befori;  him,  he  arrived  upon  tlie  banks  of  the 
Dnieper,  and  without  much  diiliculty  effected  the  j)assage  of 
the  stream.  Peter  himself,  witii  Menzikofl',  now  hastened  to 
the  theater  of  conflict,  and  summoned  his  mightiest  energies 
to  repel  the  foe.     Battle  after  battle  ensued  with  varying  le- 

15 


338  THE     EMPIRE      OP      RUSSIA. 

suits.  But  the  situation  of  the  Swedisli  conqueror  was  fast 
growing  desperate.  He  was  far  from  home.  His  regiments 
were  daily  diminishing  beneath  the  terrible  storms  of  war, 
while  recruits  were  pouiing  in,  from  all  directions,  to  swell 
the  ranks  of  the  tzar.  It  was  the  month  of  December.  The 
villages  had  been  all  burned  and  the  country  turned  into  a 
desert.  The  cold  was  so  intense  that  on  one  particular  march 
two  thousand  men  dropped  down  dead  in  their  i-anks.  The 
wintry  storms  soon  became  so  severe  that  both  parties  Avere 
compelled  to  remain  for  some  time  in  inaction.  Every  poor 
peasant,  within  tifty  miles,  was  robbed  by  detachments  of 
starving  soldiers. 

The  moment  the  weather  permitted,  both  armies  were 
ngain  in  action.  Charles  XH.  had  taken  a  circuitous  I'oute 
towards  Moscow,  through  the  Ukraine,  hoping  to  rouse  the 
people  of  this  region  to  join  his  standards.  This  plan,  how- 
ever, proved  an  utter  failure.  About  the  middle  of  June  the 
two  armies,  led  by  their  respective  sovereigns,  met  at  Pul- 
towa,  upon  the  Worskla,  near  its  point  of  junction  with  the 
Dnieper,  about  four  hundred  miles  south  of  Moscow.  Several 
days  were  passed  in  maneuvering  and  skirmishing  in  prepara- 
tion for  a  decisive  struggle.  It  was  evident  to  all  Europe  that 
the  great  battle  to  ensue  would  decide  the  fite  of  Russia,  Po- 
land and  Sweden.  Thirty  thousand,  war-worn  veterans  were 
marshaled  under  the  banners  of  Charles  XH.  The  tzar  led 
sixty  thousand  troops  into  the  conflict.  Fully  aware  of  the 
su[)erioiity  of  the  Swedish  troops,  he  awaited  the  attack  of  his 
iurniidable  toe  behind  his  redoubts.  In  one  of  the  skirmishes, 
two  days  before  the  great  battle,  a  bullet  struck  Charles  XH., 
shattering  the  bone  of  his  heel.  It  w  as  an  exceedingly  pain- 
ful wound,  which  was  followed  by  an  equ;illy  [lainful  opera- 
lion.  Though  the  indomitable  warrior  was  suflering  severely, 
he  caused  himself  to  be  borne  in  a  litter  to  the  head  of  his 
troops,  and  led  the  charge.  The  attack  upon  the  intrench- 
ments   was  made   with  all  the  characteristic  impetuosity  of 


COXQUES'IS      AXD      ACHIEVE  ME  NTS.  3.S9 

these  deinoniac  fighters.  Notwitlistandhig  the  storm  of  giiipe 
shot  which  was  hailed  into  their  faces,  covering  the  ground 
with  the  laauglcd  and  the  dead,  two  of  tlie  redoubts  were 
taken,  and  shouts  of  victory  ran  along  the  lines  of  the  Swedes, 

The  action  continued  with  fiend-like  ferocity  for  two  houi's. 
Charles  XII.,  with  a  pistol  in  his  hand,  was  borne  on  his  litter 
from  i-ank  to  rank,  animating  his  troops,  until  a  cannon  ball, 
striking  down  one  of  his  bearers,  also  shattered  the  litter  into 
fragments,  and  dashed  the  bandaged  monarch  to  the  ground. 
With  as  much  calmness  as  though  this  were  an  ordinary,  every- 
day occurrence,  Charles  ordered  his  guards  immediately  to 
make  another  litter  with  their  pikes.  He  was  placed  upon  it, 
and  continued  to  direct  the  battle,  paying  no  more  attention 
to  bullets,  balls  and  bombshells,  than  if  they  had  been  snow 
flakes. 

Peter  was  equally  prodigal  of  danger.  Death  in  that  hour 
was  more  desirable  to  him  than  defeat,  for  Charles  XII.,  vic- 
torious, would  march  direct  to  Moscow,  and  Russia  would 
share  the  fate  of  Poland.  The  tzar  was  conspicuous  at  every 
point  where  the  battle  raged  most  fiercely.  Several  bullets 
pierced  his  clothes ;  one  passing  through  his  hat  just  grazed 
the  crown  of  his  head.  At  length,  the  Swedes,  overpowered 
by  numbers,  gave  way,  and  fled  in  great  confusion.  Charles, 
though  agonized  by  his  wound,  was  compelled  to  mount  on 
horseback  as  the  onl}*  means  of  escape  from  capture.  The 
black  hour  of  woe  came,  which  sooner  or  later  meets  almost 
every  warrior,  however  successful  for  a  time  his  career  may 
be.  The  blow  was  fatal  to  Charles  XII.  More  than  nine 
thousand  of  the  Swedes  were  left  dead  upon  the  field  of  battle. 
Eighteen  thousand  were  taken  prisoners.  The  Swedish  king, 
with  a  i'iiw  hundred  troops  in  his  retinue,  cut  off"  from  his  re- 
treat towards  Sweden,  crossed  the  Dnieper  and  fled  to  Tur- 
key. Peter  did  not  pursue  him,  but  being  informed  of  his 
desperate  resolve  to  seek  refuge  in  the  territory  of  the  Turks, 
ho  magnanimously  wrote  a  letter  to  him,  urging  him  not  to 


340  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

take  so  perilous  a  step,  assuring  him,  upou  liis  lionoi",  tl^at  he 
would  not  detain  him  as  a  pi-isoner,  but  that  all  their  difficul- 
ties should  be  settled  by  a  reasonable  peace.  A  special  cou- 
rier was  dispatched  with  this  letter,  but  he  could  not  overtake 
the  fugitives.  When  the  courier  arrived  at  the  river  Boy, 
which  separates  the  deserts  of  Ukraine  from  the  territories  of 
the  Grand  Seignoi",  the  Swedes  had  already  crossed  the  river. 
In  the  character  of  Peter  there  was  a  singular  compound  of 
magnanimity  and  of  the  most  brutal  insensibility  and  merci- 
lessness.  He  oi'dered  all  the  Swedish  generals,  who  were  his 
captives,  to  be  introduced  to  him,  letui-ned  to  them  their 
swords  and  invited  them  to  dine.  With  a  gracefulness  of 
courtesy  I'arcly  surpassed,  he  oifered  as  a  toast  the  sentiment, 
"To  the  health  of  my  masters  in  the  art  of  war."  And  yet, 
soon  after,  he  consigned  nearly  all  these  cnptives  to  the  hor- 
I'oi's  of  Siberian  exile. 

This  utter  defeat  of  Charles  XII.  produced  a  sudden  revo- 
lution in  Poland,  Sweden  and  Saxony.  Peter  immediately 
dispatched  a  large  body  of  cavalry,  nndei'  Menzikoft',  to  Po- 
land, to  assist  Augustus  in  regaining  his  crown.  Soon  after, 
he  followed  hiuiself,  at  the  head  of  an  army,  and  entering 
Warsaw  hi  triumph,  on  the  7th  of  October,  1709,  replaced 
Augustus  upon  the  throne  from  which  Charles  XII.  liad 
ejected  him.  The  whole  kingdom  acknowledged  Peter  for 
their  protector.  Peter  then  marched  to  the  electorate  of 
Brandenburg,  which  had  recently  been  elevated  into  the 
kingdom  of  Prussia,  and  performing  the  functions  of  his  own 
embassador,  entered  into  a  treaty  with  Frederic  I.,  grand- 
father of  Frederic  the  Great,  He  then  returned  with  all 
eagerness  to  St.  Petersburg,  and  pressed  forward  the  erection 
of  new  buildings  and  the  enlargement  of  the  fleet, 

A  magnificent  festival  was  here  arranged  in  commemora- 
tion of  the  great  victory  of  Pultowa.  Nine  arches  were 
reared,  beneath  which  the  procession  marched,  in  the  most 
gorgeous  array  of  civic  and  military  pageantry.    The  artillery 


CONQUESTS      AND      ACHIEVEMENTS.         341 

of  the  vanquished,  their  standards,  the  shattered  litter  of  the 
king,  and  the  vast  array  of  captives,  soldiers  and  officers,  all 
on  foot,  followed  in  the  train  of  the  triumphal  procession, 
while  the  ringing  of  bells,  the  explosion  of  an  hundred  pieces 
of  artillery,  and  the  shouts  of  an  innumerable  multitude, 
added  to  the  enthusiasm  which  the  scene  inspired. 

The  battle  of  Pultowa  gave  Peter  great  renown  through- 
out Europe,  and  added  immeasurably  to  the  reputation  of 
Russia.  xVn  occurrence  had  taken  place  in  London  which  had 
deeply  oifended  the  tzar,  who,  wielding  himself  the  energies 
of  despotism,  could  form  no  idea  of  that  government  of  law 
Avhich  was  irrespective  of  the  will  of  the  sovereign.  The 
Russian  embassador  at  the  court  of  Queen  Anne  had  been 
arrested  at  the  suit  of  a  tradesman  in  London,  and  had  been 
obliged  to  give  bail  to  save  himself  from  the  debtor's  prison. 
Peter,  regarding  this  as  a  personal  insult,  demanded  of  Queen 
Anne  satisfaction.  Slie  expressed  her  regret  for  the  occur- 
rence, but  stated,  that  according  to  the  laws  of  England,  a 
creditor  had  a  right  to  sue  for  his  just  demands,  and  that 
there  was  no  statute  exempting  foreign  embassadors  from 
being  arrested  for  debt.  Peter,  who  had  no  respect  for  con- 
stitutional liberty,  was  not  at  all  satisfied  with  this  decla- 
ration, but  postponed  further  action  until  his  conflict  with 
Sweden  should  be  terminated. 

Now,  in  the  hour  of  victory,  he  turned  again  to  Queen 
Anne  and  demanded  reparation  for  what  he  deemed  the  in- 
sult offered  to  his  government.  lie  threatened,  in  I'etaliation, 
to  take  vengeance  xipon  all  the  merchants  and  ]3ritish  subjects 
within  his  dominions.  This  was  an  a]!)2>alling  menace.  Queen 
Anne  accordingly  sent  Lord  Whitworth  on  a  formal  embassy 
to  the  tzar,  with  a  diplomatic  lie  in  his  mouth.  Addressing 
Peter  in  the  flattering  words  of  "most  high  and  mighty  em- 
peror," he  assured  him,  that  the  offending  tradesman  liad  been 
punished  with  im])risonrnent  and  rendered  infamous,  and  that 
an  act  of  Parliament  .should   be  passed,  rendering  it  no  longer 


342  THE     EMPIKE      OF     BUSSIA. 

lawful  to  arrest  a  foreign  embassador.  The  offender  had  not 
been  punished,  but  the  act  was  subsequently  passed. 

The  acknowledgment,  accompanied  by  such  flattering  tes- 
timonials of  respect,  was  deemed  satisfactory.  The  tzar  had 
demanded  the  death  of  the  ofiender.  Every  Englishman  must 
read  with  pride  the  declaration  of  Queen  Anne  in  reference  to 
this  demand. 

"There  are,"  said  she,  "  insuperable  difficulties  with  respect 
to  the  ancient  and  fundamental  laws  of  the  government  of  our 
people,  which  we  feai"  do  uot permit  so  severe  and  rigorous  a 
sentence  to  be  given,  as  your  imperial  majesty  lirst  seemed  to 
expect  in  this  case.  And  we  persuade  ourselves  that  your  im- 
perial majesty,  who  are  a  prince  famous  for  clemency  and 
exact  justice,  will  not  require  us,  who  are  the  guardian  and 
■protector  vf  the  laics,  to  inflict  a  iJunishnicnL  on  our  subjects 
which  the  law  does  not  empower  us  to  do." 

The  whole  of  Livonia  speedily  fell  into  the  hands  of  the 
tzar  and  was  reannexed  to  Russia.  Pestilence,  which  usually 
follows  in  the  train  of  war,  now  rose  from  the  putiidity  of 
battle  fields,  and  sweeping,  like  the  angel  of  death,  over  the 
war-scathed  and  starving  inhabitants  of  Livonia,  penetrated 
Sweden.  Whole  provinces  were  depopulated,  and  in  Stock- 
holm alone  thirty  thousand  perished.  The  war  of  the  Spanish 
Succession  was  now  raging,  and  every  nation  in  Europe  was 
engaged  in  the  work  of  destruction  and  butchery.  Spain, 
Portugal,  Italy,  France,  the  German  empire,  England,  Hol- 
land, Demnark,  Sweden,  Poland,  were  all  in  arms,  and  hun- 
dreds of  millions  of  nien  were  directly  or  indirectly  employed 
in  the  woi'k  of  mutual  destruction.  The  fugitive  king,  Chai'les 
XIL,  was  endeavoring  to  enlist  the  energies  of  the  Ottoman 
Poite  in  his  behalf,  and  tlie  Grand  Seignor  had  promised 
to  throw  his  armies  also,  two  hundred  thousand  strong,  into 
the  arena  of  flame  and  blood,  and  to  march  for  the  conquest 
of  Russia. 

Peter,  conscious  of  the  danger  of  an  attack  from  Turkey, 


CONQUESTS      AND     A  C  H  I  K  V  K  il  E  N  T  S  .  343 

raised  au  army  of  oue  hundred  and  twenty-tive  thuusauil  iiicii, 
when  he  was  informed  that  the  Turks,  with  a  combined  army 
of  two  Inmdred  and  ten  thousand  troops,  were  ravaging  tlie 
province  of  Azof.  Urging  his  troops  impetuously  onward,  he 
crossed  the  Fruth  and  entered  Jassi,  the  capital  of  Moldavia. 
The  grand  vizier,  with  an  army  three  times  more  numerous, 
crossed  the  Danube  and  advanced  to  meet  him.  For  tiiiee 
days  the  contending  hosts  poured  their  shot  into  each  other's 
bosoms.  The  tzar,  outnumbered  and  surrounded,  though 
enabled  to  hold  his  position  behind  his  intrenchments,  saw 
clearly  that  lamine  would  soon  compel  him  to  surrender.  His 
position  was  desperate. 

Catharine  had  accompanied  her  husband  on  this  expe- 
dition, and,  at  her  earnest  solicitation,  the  tzar  sent  proposals 
of  peace  to  the  grand  vizier,  accompanied  with  a  valuable 
present  of  money  and  jewels.  The  Turk,  dreading  tlie  ener- 
gies wliich  despair  might  develop  in  so  powerful  a  foe,  was 
willing  to  come  into  an  accommodation,  and  ciilcied  into  a 
treaty,  which,  though  greatly  to  the  advantage  of  the  Otto- 
man Forte,  rescued  the  tzar  from  the  greatest  peril  in  which 
he  had  ever  been  placed.  The  grand  vizier  good-naturedly 
sent  several  wagons  of  provisions  to  the  camp  of  his  humbled 
foes,  and  the  Russians  returned  to  their  homes,  having  lost 
twenty  thousand  men. 

Alexis,  the  oldest  son  of  Feter,  had  e?er  been  a  bad  boy, 
ai..l  he  had  now  grown  up  into  an  exceedingly  dissolute  and 
vicious  young  man.  Indolent,  licentious,  bacchanalian  in  his 
hal>its,  and  overbearing,  his  father  liad  often  threatened  to 
deprive  him  of  his  right  of  succession,  and  to  shave  his  crown 
and  consign  him  to  a  convent.  Hoping  to  imi)rove  his  char- 
acter, he  urged  his  marriage,  and  selected  for  him  a  licauti- 
ful  princess  of  Wolfenbuttle,  as  the  possessions  of  the  dukes 
of  Brunswick  were  tlten  called.  The  old  ducal  casthi  still 
stands  on  the  banks  of  the  Oka  about  forty  nfiles  south-oast 
of  Hanover.     The   princess   of  Wolfenbuttle,   who    was    but 


344  THE      EMPIEE      OF     RUSSIA. 

eighteen  years  of  age,  was  sister  to  the  Empress  of  Germa- 
ny, consort  of  Charles  VI.  The  young  Russian  prince  was 
dragged  very  reluctantly  to  this  marriage,  for  he  M'ished  to 
be  shackled  by  no  such  ties.  He  was  the  son  of  Peter's  first 
wife,  not  of  the  Empress  Catharine,  whom  the  tzar  had  now 
acknowledged.  Peter  and  Catharine  attended  these  untoward 
nuptials,  which  were  celebrated  in  the  palace  of  the  Queen  of 
Poland,  in  which  a  princess  as  lovely  in  character  as  in  person 
was  sacrificed  to  one  who  made  the  few  remaining  mouths  of 
her  life  a  continued  martyrdom.  But  little  more  than  a  year 
had  passed  after  their  marriage  ere  she  was  brought  to  bed 
of  a  son.  Her  heart  was  already  broken,  and  she  was  quite 
unprepared  for  the  anguish  of  such  an  hour.  Though  the 
sweetness  of  her  disposition  and  the  gentleness  of  her  man- 
ners had  endeared  her  to  all  her  household,  her  husband 
treated  her  with  the  most  brutal  neglect  and  cruelty.  Un- 
blushingly  he  introduced  into  the  palace  his  mistresses,  and 
the  saloons  ever  resounded  with  the  uproar  of  his  drunken 
companions.  The  woe-stricken  princess,  then  but  twenty 
yeais  of  age,  covered  her  face  with  the  bed  clothes,  and, 
weeping  bitterly,  refused  to  take  any  nourishment,  and  begged 
the  physicians  to  permit  her  to  die  in  peace.  Intelligence 
was  imme<liately  sent  to  the  tzar  of  the  confinement  of  liis 
daughter  in-law,  and  of  her  dangerous  situation.  P-^  hastened 
to  her  chamber.  The  interview  was  short,  but  so  affecting 
that  the  tzar,  losing  all  selfcontrol,  burst  into  an  agony  of 
grief  and  wept  like  a  child.  The  dying  princess  commended 
to  his  care  her  babe  and  her  servants;,  and,  as  the  clock  struck 
the  hour  of  midnight,  lier  spirit  departed,  we  trust  to  that 
world  "  where  the  wicked  cease  from  troubling  and  the  weaiy 
are  at  rest."  The  orphan  babe  was  baptized  as  I'eter  Alexis, 
and  subsequently,  on  the  death  of  the  Empress  Catharine, 
became  Emperor  of  Russia. 

On  the  20th  of  February,  1712,  Peter,  who  liad  previously 
acknowledged  Ins  [jrivate  marriage  with  Catharine,  had  tlie 


CONQUESTS     AND     ACHIEVEMENTS.  345 

marriage  publicly  solemnized  at  St.  Petersburg  with  the 
utmost  pomp.  Soon  after  this,  to  the  inexpressible  joy  of 
both  parents,  Catharine  gave  birth  to  a  son.  The  war  with 
Sweden  still  continued,  notwithstanding  Charles  XII.  was  a 
fugitive  in  Turkey  unable  to  return  to  his  own  country. 
Finland,  a  vast  realm  containing  one  hundred  and  thirty-five 
thousand  square  miles  and  almost  embraced  by  the  Gulfs  of 
Bothnia  and  of  Finland,  then  belonged  to  Sweden.  Peter 
fitted  out  an  expedition  from  St.  Petersburg  for  the  conquest 
of  that  country.  With  three  hundred  ships,  conveying  thir- 
teen thousand  men,  he  effected  a  landing  in  the  vicinity  of 
Abo  notwithstanding  the  oppositJ^on  of  the  Swedish  force 
there,  and,  establishing  his  troops  in  redoubts  with  ample 
supplies,  he  returned  to  St.  Petersburg  for  reinforcements. 
He  soon  returned,  and,  with  an  array  augmented  to  twenty 
thousand  foot  and  four  thousand  horse,  with  a  powerful  train 
of  artillery,  commenced  a  career  of  conquest.  The  city  of 
Abo,  on  the  coast,  the  cajutal  of  Finland,  fell  unresistingly 
into  his  hands  with  a  large  quantity  of  provisions.  There 
Avas  a  flourishing  university  here  containing  a  valuable  libr.iry. 
Peter  sent  the  books  to  St.  Petersburg,  and  they  became  the 
foundation  of  the  present  royal  library  in  that  place. 

The  tzar,  Jeaving  the  prosecution  of  the  war  to  his  gen- 
erals, vetu  -ed  to  St.  Petersburg.  Many  and  bloody  battles 
were  fought  in  those  northern  wilds  during  the  summer,  in 
most  of  which  the  Russians  had  the  advantage,  gaining  citadel 
after  citadel  until  winter  drove  the  combatants  from  the  field. 

With  indefatigable  zeal  Peter  pressed  forward  in  his  i)lan 
to  give  splendor  and  power  to  his  new  city  of  Petersburg. 
One  thousand  families  were  moved  there  from  Moscow.  Very 
flattering  offers  were  made  to  induce  foreigners  to  settle  there, 
and  a  decree  was  issued  declaring  Petersbuig  to  be  the  only 
port  of  entry  in  tiie  empire.  He  ordered  that  no  more  wood- 
en houses  should  be  built,  and  that  all  should  be  covered  with 
tile  ;  and  to  secure  the  Ix'st  architects  from  Europe,  he  offered 

15* 


34G  TUK      EMPIRE      OF      KITBSIA. 

them  houses  rent  free,  and  entire  exemption  from  taxes  for 
fourteen  years.  The  campaign  of  another  summer,  that  of 
1714,  rendered  the  tzar  the  master  of  the  whole  province  of 
Finland. 

In  the  autumn  of  this  year,  Charles  XII.,  escaped  from 
Turkey,  where  he  had  performed  pranks  outrivaling  Don 
Quixote,  and  had  finally  been  held  a  prisoner.  He  traversed 
Hungary  and  Gei'many  in  disguise,  and  traveling  day  and 
night,  in  such  haste  that  but  one  of  his  attendants  could  keep 
up  with  him,  arrived,  exhausted  and  haggard,  in  Sweden.  He 
was  leceived  with  the  liveliest  demonstrations  of  joy,  and  im- 
mediately placed  himself  again  at  the  head  of  the  Swedish 
armies. 

The  tzar,  however,  conscious  that  he  now  had  not  much 
to  fear  from  Sweden,  left  the  conduct  of  the  desultory  war 
with  his  generals,  and  set  out  on  another  tour  of  observation 
to  southern  Europe.  The  lovely  Catharine,  who,  with  the  fairy 
form  and  sylph-like  grace  of  a  girl  of  seventeen,  had  won  the 
love  of  Peter,  was  now  a  staid  and  worthy  matron  of  middle 
lite.  She  had,  however,  secured  the  abiding  affection  of  the 
tzar,  and  he  loved  to  take  her  with  him  on  all  his  journeys. 
Catharine,  though  on  the  eve  of  again  becoming  a  mother, 
accompanied  her  husband  as  far  as  Holland.  Through  Stral- 
sund,  Mecklenburg  and  Hamburg,  they  proceeded  to  Rostock, 
where  a  fleet  of  forty-five  galleys  awaited  him.  The  emperor 
took  the  command,  and  hoisting  his  flag,  sailed  to  Copenha- 
gen. Here  he  was  entertained  for  two  months  with  profuse 
hospitality  by  the  King  of  Denmark,  during  which  time  he 
studied,  with  sleepless  vigilance,  the  institutions  and  the  artis- 
tic attainments  of  the  country. 

About  the  middle  of  December  he  arrived  at  Amster- 
dam, The  city  gave  him  a  splendid  reception,  and  he  was 
welcomed  by  the  Earl  of  Albemarle  in  a  very  compliment- 
ary speech,  pompous  and  flowery.  The  uncourteous  tzar 
bluntly  replied. 


CONQUESTS     AND      ACHIEVE  MENTS.  347 

"  I  thank  you  heartily,  though  I  do  n't  understand  much 
of  what  you  say.  I  learned  my  Dutch  among  ship-builders, 
but  the  sort  of  language  you  have  spoken  I  am  sure  I  never 
learned." 

Some  of  his  old  companions,  who  were  ship-builders,  and 
had  acquired  wealth,  invited  him  to  dine.  They  addressed 
him  as  "  your  majesty."    Peter  cut  them  short,  saying, 

"  Come,  brothers,  let  us  converse  like  plain  and  honest 
ship-carpenters." 

A  servant  brought  him  some  wine.  "Give  me  the  jug," 
said  he  laughing,  "  and  then  I  can  drink  as  much  as  I  please, 
and  no  one  can  tell  how  much  I  have  taken." 

Pie  hastened  to  Zaandam,  where  he  was  received  with  the 
utmost  joy  by  his  old  friends  from  whom  he  had  parted  nine- 
teen years  before.  An  old  woman  pressed  forward  totgreet 
him. 

"  My  good  woman,"  said  the  tzar,  "  how  do  you  know 
who  I  am  ?" 

"  I  am  the  widow,"  she  said,  "  of  Baas  Pool,  at  whose 
table  your  majesty  so  often  sat  nineteen  years  ago." 

The  emperor  kissed  her  upon  the  forehead  and  invited 
her  to  dine  with  him  that  very  day.  One  of  his  first  visits 
was  to  the  little  cottage,  or  rather  hut,  which  he  had  occupied 
while  residing  there.  The  cottage  is  still  carefully  preserved, 
having  been  purchased  in  1823  by  the  sister  of  the  Emperor 
Alexander,  and  enclosed  in  another  building  with  large  arched 
windows.  Tiie  room  was  even  then  regarded  as  sacred.  In 
the  center  stood  the  oaken  table  and  the  three  wooden  chairs 
•which  constituted  the  furniture  when  Peter  occupied  it.  The 
loft  was  ascended  by  a  ladder  which  still  remains. 

With  all  the  roughness  of  Peter's  exterior,  he  had  always 
been  a  man  of  deep  religious  feelings,  and  thi-ough  all  liis  life 
was  in  habits  of  daily  prayer.  This  loft  had  been  his  place  of 
private  devotion  to  which  he  daily  ascended.  Upon  entering 
the  cottage  and  findmg  every  thing  just  as  he  had  left  it,  the 


348  TUE     EMPIKE      OF     RUSSIA. 

tzar  was  for  a  moment  much  afiected.  He  ascended  the  lad- 
der to  bis  closet  of  prayer  in  the  loft,  and  there  remained 
alone  with  his  God  for  a  full  half  hour.  Eventful  indeed  and 
varied  had  his  life  been  since  there,  a  young  man  of  twenty- 
five,  he  had  daily  sought  divine  guidance. 


CHAPTER     XXI. 

THE    TRIAL   AND   CONDEMNATION    OF   ALEXIS,   AND    DEATH 
OF   THE   TZAR. 

From  1718  to  1725. 

TuE  Tzak's  Sf.cond  Visit  to  Holland. — Reception  in  France. — Descuiption  ok 
Catharine. — Domestic  Grief. — Conduct  op  Alexis. — Letters  fro.m  His  Father. 
— Flight  TO  Germany. — Thence  to  Naples. — Envoys  Sent  to  Bring  IIim  Back. 
— Alexis  Excluded  from  the  Succession. — His  Trial  for  Treason. — Condemna- 
tion AND  Unexpected  De.vth. — New  Efforts  of  the  Tzar  for  the  Welfare  op 
EtssiA. — Sickness  of  Peter. — His  Death. — Succession  op  the  Empress  Catha- 
rine.— Epitaph  to  the  Emperor. 

TT^ROM  Holland  the  tzar  went  to  Paris.  Great  pre])arations 
J-  were  made  there  for  his  reception,  and  apartments  in  the 
Louvre  were  gorgeously  fitted  up  for  the  accommodation  of 
him  and  his  suite.  But  Peter,  annoyed  by  parade,  declined 
the  sumptuous  palace,  and,  the  very  evening  of  his  arrival, 
took  lodgings  at  the  Hotel  de  Lesdiguieres.  To  those  who 
urged  his  accej^tance  of  the  saloons  of  the  Louvre  he  replied, 

"  I  am  a  soldiei-.  A  little  bread  and  beer  satisfy  me.  I 
prefer  small  apartments  to  large  ones.  I  have  no  desire  to 
be  attended  with  pomp  and  ceremony,  nor  to  give  trouble 
to  so  many  people." 

Every  hour  of  his  stay  in  Paris  was  employed  in  study- 
ing the  institutions  of  the  realm,  and  the  progress  made  in 
the  arts  and  sciences.  Standing  by  the  tomb  of  Kichelieu, 
which  is  one  of  the  finest  pieces  of  sculpture  in  Eui'opc,  he 
exclaimed, 

"Thou  great  man  !  I  would  have  given  thee  one  half  of 
my  dominions  to  learn  of  thee  how  to  govern  the  other  half." 

All  the  trades  and  raanufiictures  of  the  capital  he  exam- 


350  THE      EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

ined  with  the  greatest  care,  and  took  back  with  him  to  St. 
Petersburg  a  large  number  of  the  most  skillful  artists  and 
mechanics.  Leaving  France  he  returned  to  Amsterdam, 
where  he  rejoined  Catharine,  and  proceeded  with  her  to  Ber- 
lin. A  haughty  German  lady,  piqued,  perhaps,  that  a  woman 
not  of  noble  birth  should  be  an  empress,  thus  describes  the 
appearance  of  Catharine  at  that  time : 

"  The  tzarina  is  short  and  lusty,  remarkably  coarse,  with- 
out grace  and  animation.  One  need  only  see  her  to  be  satis- 
fied of  her  low  birth.  At  the  first  blush  one  would  take  her 
for  a  German  actress.  Her  clothes  looked  as  if  bought  at  a 
doll  shop  ;  every  thing  was  so  old  fashioned  and  so  bedecked 
with  silver  and  tinsel.  She  was  decorated  with  a  dozen  orders, 
portraits  of  saints,  and  relics,  which  occasioned  such  a  clatter 
that  when  she  walked  one  would  suppose  that  an  ass  with  bells 
was  approaching.  The  tzar,  on  the  contrary,  was  tall  and  well 
made.  Ilis  countenance  is  liandsome,  but  there  is  something 
in  it  so  rude  that  it  inspires  one  with  dread.  He  was  dressed 
like  a  seaman,  in  a  frock,  witliout  lace  or  ornament."* 

On  Peter's  return  to  Russia,  he  was  compelled  to  meet 
and  grasp  a  ti-ouble  which  for  fifteen  years  had  embittered  his 
life.  His  son,  Alexis,  had  ever  been  a  thorn  in  his  father's 
side.  He  was  not  only  indolent  and  dissipated,  but  he  was 
utterly  opposed  to  all  his  father's  measures  for  reform,  and 
was  continually  engaged  in  underhand  measures  to  head  a 
party  against  him.  Upon  the  death  of  the  unhappy  princess 
of  Wolfenbuttle,  wife  of  this  worthless  prince,  the  grieved  and 
indignant  father  wrote  to  him  as  follows : 

"  I  shall  wait  a  little  while  longer  to  see  if  there  be  any 
hopes  of  your  reform.  If  not,  I  shall  cut  you  off  from  the 
succession  as  one  lops  off  a  dead  branch.  Do  not  think  that 
I  wish  to  intimidate  you ;  and  do  not  place  too  much  reliance 
upon  the  fact  that  you  are  my  only  son.  f     If  I  am  willing  to 

*  Momoires  de  la  Margrave  do  Bareith. 

\  The  empress  gave  birth  to  a  son  shortly  after  this  letter  was  written. 


TRIAL     AND     C0XDE:M  NATION     OF     ALEXIS.         351 

lay  down  my  own  life  for  Russia,  do  you  tliink  that  I  shall  be 
willing  to  sacrifice  my  country  for  you  ?  1  would  rather  trans- 
mit the  crown  to  an  entire  stranger  worthy  of  the  trust,  than 
to  my  own  child  unworthy  of  it." 

This  letter  produced  no  eftect  upon  the  shameless  de4 
bauchee.  He  continued  unchecked  in  his  career  of  infamy. 
In  acknowledging  the  receipt  of  his  father's  letter,  he  con- 
temptuously replied  that  he  had  no  wish  for  the  crown,  and 
that  he  was  ready  at  any  time  to  take  an  oath  that  he  would 
renounce  it  for  ever.  Matters  were  in  this  position  when  the 
tzar  left  for  Denmark.  He  had  hardly  arrived  in  Copenhagen 
wlien  he  received  dispatches  informing  him  that  his  son  was 
gathering  around  him  all  the  disaffected,  and  was  seiiously 
endangering  the  tranquillity  of  the  State.  Once  more  the 
anxious  father  wrote  to  hira  in  these  words : 

"  I  observe  in  your  letter  that  you  say  not  a  word  of  the 
affliction  your  conduct  has  caused  me  for  so  many  years.  A 
father's  admonitions  seem  to  produce  no  impression  upon  you. 
I  have  2:»revailed  on  myself  to  write  you  once  more,  and  for 
the  last  time.  Those  bushy  beards  bind  you  to  their  pur- 
poses. They  are  the  persons  whom  you  trust,  who  place  their 
hopes  in  you;  and  you  have  no  gratitude  to  him  who  gave 
you  life.  Since  you  were  of  age  have  you  ever  aided  your 
father  in  his  toils?  Have  you  not  opposed  every  thing  I  have 
done  for  the  good  of  ray  people  ?  Have  I  not  reason  to  believe 
that  should  you  survive  me  you  will  destroy  all  that  I  have 
accomplished  ?  Amend  your  life.  Render  yourself  worthy  of 
the  succession,  or  turn  monk.  Reply  to  this  either  in  person 
or  in  willing.     If  you  do  not  I  shall  treat  you  as  a  criminal." 

The  reply  of  Alexis  was  laconic  indeed.  It  consisted  of 
just  four  lines,  and  was  as  follows: 

"  Your  letter  of  the  19th  I  received  yesterday.  My  illness 
prevents  me  from  writing  at  length.  I  intend  to  embrace  the 
monastic  life,  and  I  request  your  gracious  consent  to  that  ef- 
fect." 


352  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

Seven  months  passed  away,  during  which  the  tzar  heard 
nothing  directly  from  his  sen,  though  tlie  father  kept  himself 
informed  of  his  conduct.  As  Peter  was  returning  from  Fiance 
he  wrote  to  his  son  reproaching  him  for  his  long  silence,  and 
requesting  him,  if  he  washed  to  amend  his  ways  and  secure  his 
father's  favor,  to  meet  him  at  Copenhagen;  but  that  it^  on  tin- 
contrary,  he  preferred  to  enter  a  convent,  which  was  the  only 
alternative,  he  should  inform  him  by  the  return  courier,  that 
measures  might  be  adojjted  to  carry  the  plan  immediately  into 
effect. 

This  brought  matters  to  a  crisis.  The  last  thing  the 
bloated  debauchee  wished  was  to  enter  a  convent.  He  was 
equally  averse  to  a  sober  life,  and  dared  not  meet  his  father 
lest  he  should  be  placed  under  arrest.  He  consequently  made 
no  reply,  but  pretending  that  he  was  to  set  out  immediately 
for  Copenhagen,  he  secured  all  the  treasure  he  could  lay  his 
hands  upon  and  fled  to  Germany,  to  the  court  of  the  Emperor 
Charles  VI.,  who,  it  will  be  remembered,  was  his  brother-in- 
law,  having  married  a  sister  of  his  deceased  wife.  Here  he 
told  a  deplorable  story  of  the  cruelty  of  his  father,  of  the  per- 
secutions to  which  he  was  exposed,  and  that  to  save  his  life  he 
had  been  compelled  to  flee  from  Russia. 

The  emperor,  knowing  full  well  that  the  young  man  was 
an  infamous  profligate,  was  not  at  all  disposed  to  incur  the 
displeasure  of  Peter  by  apparently  espoushig  the  cause  of  the 
son  against  the  father.  He  consequently  gave  the  misci-eant 
such  a  cold  reception  that  he  found  the  imperial  palace  any 
thing  but  a  pleasant  place  of  residence,  and  again  he  set  out 
on  his  vagabond  travels.  The  next  tidings  his  father  heard 
of  him  were  that  he  was  in  Naples,  spending,  as  ever,  his  sub- 
stance in  riotous  living.  A  Mher's  heart  still  yearned  over 
tlie  miserable  young  man,  and  compassion  was  blended  with 
disappointment  and  indignation.  He  immediately  dispatched 
two  members  of  his  court,  M.  Roraanzoff,  captain  of  the  royal 
guards,  and  M.  Toltoi,  a  privy  counselor,  to  Naples,  to  make 


TRIAL     AND     CONDEMNATION     OF     ALEXIS.       353 

:i  lust  eftbrt  to  reclaim  his  misguided  son.  They  found  the 
young  man  in  the  chateau  of  Saint  Elme,  and  presented  to  him 
a  letter  from  his  father.  It  was  dated  Spa,  July  ],  fZlV,  and 
contained  the  following  words  : 

"  I  write  to  you  for  the  last  time.  Toltoi  and  Rumanzoff 
will  make  known  to  you  my  will.  If  you  obey  me,  I  assure 
you,  and  I  promise  before  God,  that  I  will  not  jjunish  you,  but 
if  you  will  return  to  me  I  will  love  you  better  than  ever. 
But  if  you  will  not  return  to  me,  I  pronounce  upon  you,  as 
your  father,  in  virtue  of  the  power  I  have  received  from  God, 
my  eternal  malediction  ;  and,  ;xs  your  sovereign,  I  assure  you 
that  I  shall  find  means  to  punish  you,  in  which  I  trust  God 
Avill  assist  me." 

It  required  the  most  earnest  persuasion,  and  even  the 
intervention  of  the  viceroy  of  Naples,  to  induce  Alexis  to 
return  to  Russia.  The  miserable  man  had  a  harem  of  aban- 
doned women  with  him,  with  whom  he  set  out  on  his  return. 
They  arrived  in  Moscow  tlie  13th  of  February,  1718,  and  on 
that  very  day  Peter  had  an  interview  with  his  son.  No  one 
knows  what  passed  in  that  interview.  The  rumor  of  the 
arrival  of  Alexis  spread  rapidly  through  the  city,  and  it  was 
supposed  that  a  reconciliation  had  taken  place.  But  the  next 
morning,  at  the  earliest  dawn,  the  great  bell  of  Moscow  rang 
an  alarm,  the  royal  guards  were  marshaled  and  the  privy 
counselors  of  the  emperor  were  summoned  to  the  Kremlin. 

Alexis  was  led,  without  his  sword  and  as  a  prisoner,  into 
th(;  presence  of  his  father.  At  the  same  time,  all  the  high 
ecclesiastics  of  the  church  were  assembled,  in  solemn  conclave, 
in  the  cathedral  church.  Alexis  fell  upon  his  knees  beibre  his 
father,  confessed  his  limits,  renounced  all  claim  to  the  succes- 
sion and  entreated  only  that  his  life  might  be  spared.  The 
tzar  led  his  son  into  an  adjoining  room,  where  they  for  some 
time  remained  alone.  He  then  returned  to  his  privy  council 
and  read  a  long  statement,  very  carefully  drawn  up,  minutely 
recapitulating  the  conduct  of  Alexia,  his  indolence,  his  shame- 


354  THE     EMPIKE      OF      RUSSIA. 

les.s  libertinism,  his  low  companiousliip,  his  treasonable  de- 
signs, and  exhibiting  his  utter  untitness,  in  all  respects,  to  be 
entrusted  with  the  government  of  an  empire.  This  remarka- 
ble document  was  concluded  with  the  following  words: 

"Now  although  our  son,  by  such  criminal  conduct,  merits 
the  punishment  of  death,  yet  our  paternal  aflection  induces  us 
to  pardon  his  crimes  and  to  exempt  him  from  the  penalty 
A\  iiich  is  his  due.  But  considering  his  unworthiness,  as  devel- 
oped in  the  conduct  we  have  described,  we  can  not,  in  con- 
science, bequeath  to  him  the  throne  of  Russia,  foreseeing  that, 
by  his  vicious  courses,  he  would  degrade  tlie  glory  of  our 
nation,  endanger  its  safety  and  speedily  lose  those  provinces 
which  we  have  recovered  from  our  foes  with  so  much  toil  and 
at  so  vast  an  expense  of  blood  and  treasure.  To  inflict  upon 
our  faithful  subjects  the  rule  of  such  a  sovereign,  would  be  to 
expose  them  to  a  condition  worse  than  Russia  has  ever  yet 
exjjL'iienced.  We  do  therefore,  by  our  i>aternal  authority, 
in  virtue  of  which,  by  the  laws  of  our  empire,  any  of  our  sub- 
jects may  disinherit  a  son  and  give  his  succession  to  such 
other  of  his  sons  as  he  pleases,  and,  in  quality  of  sovereign 
jirince,  in  consideration  of  tlie  safety  of  our  dominions,  we  do 
deprive  our  son,  Alexis,  for  his  crimes  and  unworthiness,  of 
the  succession  after  us  to  our  throne  of  Russia,  and  we  do  con- 
stitute and  declare  successor  to  the  said  throne  after  us  our 
second  son,  Peter. 

"  We  lay  upon  our  said  son,  Alexis,  our  paternal  curse  if 
ever,  at  any  time,  he  pretends  to,  or  reclaims  said  succession, 
and  wl'  desire  our  faithful  subjects,  whether  ecclesiastics  or 
seculars,  of  all  ranks  and  conditions,  and  the  whole  Russian 
naii'iii,  in  conformity  to  this,  our  will,  to  acknowledge  our  son 
Poter  as  lawful  successor,  and  to  conlirm  the  whole  by  oath 
before  the  lioly  altar  upon  the  holy  gospel,  kissing  the  cross. 
And  all  those  who  shall  ever  oppose  this,  our  will,  and  shall 
dare  to  consider  our  son,  Alexis,  as  successor,  we  declare 
traitors  to  us  and  to  their  country.     We  have  ordered  these 


TKIAL     AND     CONUKHXATION     OF     ALEXIS.       355 

prosiMits  to  be  evorywiiore  promulgated,  that  no  person  may 
pretend  ignorance.     Given  at  Moscow,  February  3d,  1718." 

This  document  was  then  taken  to  the  cathedral,  where  all 
the  higher  ecclesiastics  had  been  assembled,  and  was  read  to 
them.  Xothing  w;is  omitted  which  could  invest  the  act  with 
solemnity.  There  is  every  evidence  that  the  heart  of  the 
lather  was  rent  with  acutest  anguish  in  all  these  proceedings. 
Nothing  could  have  been  moi-e  desirable  to  him  than  to  trans- 
mit the  empire  his  energies  had  rendered  so  illustrious,  to  his 
own  son  to  carry  on  the  enterprises  his  father  had  commenced. 
But  to  place  eighteen  millions  of  people  in  the  hands  of  one 
who  had  proved  himself  so  totally  unworthy,  would  have  been 
the  greatest  cruelty.  The  exclusion  of  Alexis  from  the  suc- 
cession was  the  noblest  act  of  Peter's  life. 

But  new  facts  were  soon  developed  which  rendered  it  im- 
possible for  the  unha])py  father  to  stop  even  here.  Evidence 
came  to  light  that  Alexis  had  been  plotting  a  conspiracy  for 
the  dethronement  of  his  father,  and  for  the  seizure  of  the 
crown  by  violence.  His  mother,  whom  the  tzar  had  repudi- 
ated, and  his  energetic  aunt,  Mary,  both  of  whom  were  in  a 
convent,  were  involved  in  the  plot.  He  had  applied  to  his 
brothei--i:i-law,  the  Emperor  of  Germany,  for  foreign  troops 
to  aid  him.  There  were  many  restless  spirits  in  the  empire, 
turbulent  and  depraved,  the  boon  companions  of  Alexis,  who 
were  ready  for  any  deeds  of  desperation  which  might  place 
Alexis  on  the  throne.  The  second  son  of  the  emperor,  tiie 
child  of  Catharine,  was  an  infant  of  but  a  few  months  old. 
The  liealth  of  Peter  was  iniirm  and  his  life  doubtful.  It  was 
manifest  that  immediately  upon  the  death  of  the  tzar,  Alexis 
would  rally  liis  accomplices  around  him,  raise  the  banner  of 
revolt  against  the  inllmt  king,  and  that  thus  the  empire  would 
be  plunged  into  all  the  horrors  of  a  long  and  bloody  civil  war. 
Peter  having  commenced  the  work  of  seU-sacrifice  for  the 
salvation  of  Russia,  was  not  disposed  to  leave  that  work  half 
accomplished.       All    knew   that  the   infamous  Alexis    would 


^56  THE     EMPIRE     OF      RUSSIA. 

shrink  from  no  crime,  and  there  was  ample  evidence  of  his 
treasonable  plots.  The  father  now  deliberately  resolved  to 
arraign  his  son  for  high  treason,  a  crime  which  doomed  him 
to  death.  Aware  of  the  awful  solemnity  of  such  a  moment, 
and  of  the  severity  with  which  his  measures  and  his  motives 
would  be  sifted  by  posterity,  he  proceeded  with  the  greatest 
circumspection.  A  high  court  of  justice  was  organized  for 
the  trial,  consisting  of  two  chambers,  the  one  ecclesiastical, 
the  other  secular.  On  the  13th  of  June,  1718,  the  court  was 
assembled,  and  the  tzar  presented  to  them  the  documentary 
evidence,  which  had  l)een  carefidly  obtained,  of  his  son's  trea- 
sonable designs,  and  thus  addressed  them  : 

"Though  the  liiglit  of  Alexis,  the  son  of  the  tzar,  and  a 
part  of  his  crimes  be  already  known,  yet  there  are  now  dis- 
covered such  unexpected  and  surprising  attempts,  as  plainly 
show  with  what  baseness  and  villainy  he  endeavored  to  impose 
on  us,  his  sovereign  and  fatiier,  and  what  perjuries  he  hath 
committed  against  Almighty  God,  all  which  shall  now  be  laid 
before  yon.  Though,  according  to  all  laws,  civil  and  divine, 
and  especially  those  of  this  empire,  which  grant  fathers  abso- 
lute jurisdiction  over  their  children,  we  have  full  power  to 
judge  our  son  according  to  our  pleasure,  yet,  as  men  are 
liable  to  prejudice  in  their  own  affairs,  and  as  the  most  emi- 
nent physicians  rely  not  on  tlieir  own  judgment  concerning 
themselves,  but  call  in  the  advice  of  others,  so  we,  under  the 
awful  fear  of  displeasing  God,  make  known  our  disease,  and 
apply  to  you  for  a  cure.  As  I  have  promised  pardon  to  my 
son  in  case  he  should  declare  to  me  the  truth,  and  though  lie 
has  forfeited  this  promise  by  concealing  his  rebellious  designs, 
yet,  that  we  may  not  swerve  from  our  obligation,  we  pray 
you  to  consider  this  affair  with  seriousness,  and  report  what 
punishment  he  deserves  without  favor  or  partiality  either  to 
him  or  mo.  Let  not  the  reflection  that  you  are  passing  sen- 
tence on  the  son  of  your  prince  have  any  influence  on  you, 
but  administer  justice  without  respect  of  persons.     Destroy 


TKIAL     AND     CONDEMN  A  TIOX     OF     ALEXIS.       357 

not  your  own  souls  and  mine,  by  doing  any  thing  which  may 
injure  our  country  or  upbraid  our  consciences  in  the  great  and 
terrible  day  of  judgment." 

The  evidence  adduced  against  the  young  prince,  from  his 
own  confession,  and  the  depositions  which  had  been  taken, 
were  very  carefully  considered,  nearly  a  month  being  oc- 
cupied in  the  solemnities  of  deliberation.  A  verdict  was 
finally  rendered  in  tlie  form  of  a  report  to  the  emperor.  It 
was  a  long,  carefully-worded  document,  containing  a  state- 
ment of  the  facts  which  the  evidence  substantiated  against 
the  culprit.     The  conclusion  was  as  follows  : 

"  It  is  evident,  from  the  whole  conduct  of  the  son  of  the 
tzar,  that  he  intended  to  take  the  crown  from  the  head  of  his 
father  and  place  it  u})on  his  own,  not  only  by  a  civil  insurrec- 
tion, but  by  the  assistance  of  a  foreign  army  which  he  had 
actually  requested.  He  has  therefore  rendered  himself  un- 
worthy of  the  clemency  promised  by  the  emperor ;  and,  since 
all  laws,  divine,  ecclesiastical,  civil  and  military,  condemn  to 
death,  without  mercy,  not  only  those  who  attempt  rebellion 
against  their  sovereign,  but  those  who  are  plotting  such  at- 
tempts, what  shall  be  our  judgment  of  one  who  has  conspired 
for  the  commission  of  a  crime  almost  unparalleled  in  history — 
the  assassination  of  his  sovereign,  who  was  his  own  father,  a 
father  of  great  indulgence,  who  leai-ed  his  son  from  the  cra- 
dle with  more  than  paternal  tendei-ness,  who,  with  incredible 
])ains,  strove  to  educate  him  for  government,  and  to  qualify 
him  for  the  succession  to  so  great  an  empire  ?  How  much 
more  imperatively  does  such  a  crime  merit  death. 

"  It  is  therefore  with  hearts  full  of  affliction,  and  eyes 
streaming  with  tears,  that  we,  as  subjects  and  servants,  pio- 
nounce  this  sentence  against  the  son  of  our  most  precious  sov- 
ereign lord,  the  tzar.  Neveitheless,  it  being  his  pleasure  that 
we  should  act  in  this  capacity,  we,  by  these  presents,  declare 
our  real  opinion,  and  pronounce  this  sentence  of  condemnation 
with  a  pure  conscience  as  we  hope  to  answer  at  the  tribunal 


358  THE      EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

of  Almighty  God.  We  submit,  however,  this  sentence  to  the 
sovereign  will  and  revisal  of  his  imperial  majesty,  our  most 
merciful  sovereign." 

This  sentence  was  signed  by  all  the  members  of  the  court, 
one  hundred  and  eighty  in  number;  and  on  the  6th  of  July  it 
was  read  to  the  guilty  prince  in  the  castle  where  he  was  kept 
confined.  The  miserable  young  man,  enfeebled  in  body  and 
mind  by  debaucheries,  was  so  overwhelmed  with  terror,  as  his 
death  warrant  was  i-ead,  that  he  was  thrown  into  convulsions. 
All  the  night  long  fit  succeeded  fit,  as,  delirious  with  woe,  he 
moaned  upon  his  bed.  In  the  morning  a  messenger  was  dis- 
patched to  the  tzar  to  inform  him  that  his  son  was  seriously 
sick ;  in  an  hour  another  messenger  was  sent  stating  that  he 
was  very  dangerously  sick ;  and  soon  a  third  messenger  was 
dispatched  with  the  intelligence  that  Alexis  could  not  survive 
the  day,  and  was  very  anxious  to  see  his  father.  Peter,  scarce 
less  wretched  than  his  miserable  son,  hastened  to  his  room. 
The  dying  young  man,  at  the  sight  of  his  father,  burst  into 
tears,  confessed  all  his  crimes,  and  begged  his  father's  blessing 
in  this  hour  of  death.  Tears  coursed  down  the  cheeks  of  the 
stern  emperor,  and  he  addressed  his  dying  child  in  terms  so 
pathetic,  and  so  fervently  implored  God's  pardon  for  him,  that 
the  stoutest  hearts  were  moved  and  loud  sobbings  filled  the 
room. 

It  was  midday  of  the  7th  of  July,  1718.  The  prince  was 
confined  in  a  large  chamber  of  a  stone  castle,  which  was  at  the 
same  time  a  palace  and  a  fortress.  There  lay  upon  the  couch 
the  dying  Alexis,  bloated  by  the  excesses  of  a  life  of  utter  pol- 
lution, yet  pale  and  haggard  with  terror  and  woe.  The  iron- 
hearted  father,  whose  soul  this  sublime  tragedy  had  melted, 
sat  at  his  side  weeping  like  a  child.  The  guards  who  stood  at 
the  door,  the  nobles  and  ecclesiastics  who  had  accompanied 
the  emperor,  wei'e  all  unmanned,  many  sobbing  aloud,  over- 
whelmed by  emotions  utterly  uncontrollable.  This  scene 
stamps  the  impress  of  almost  celestial  greatness    upon  the 


TRIAL     AND     CONDEMNATION     OF    ALEXIS.       359 

sonl  of  the  tzar.  He  knew  his  son's  weakness,  incompetency 
and  utter  depravity,  and  even  in  that  hour  of  agony  his  spirit 
did  not  bend,  and  he  would  not  sacrilice  the  hai)i)iness  of 
eighteen  millions  of  i)eople  through  parental  tenderness  for 
his  debauched  and  ruined  child. 

About  six  o'clock  in  the  evening  the  wretched  Alexis 
biealhed  his  last,  and  })assed  from  the  tribunals  of  earth  to 
the  judgment-seat  of  God.  The  emperor  immediately  seemed 
to  banish  from  his  mind  every  remembrance  of  his  crimes,  and 
his  funeral  was  attended  w  itli  all  the  customary  demonstra- 
tions of  affection  and  respect.  Peter,  fully  aware  that  this 
most  momentous  event  of  his  life  would  be  severely  criticised 
throughout  the  world,  sent  a  statement  of  the  facts  to  all  the 
courts  of  Europe.  In  his  letter,  which  accompanied  these 
statements,  he  sa}s: 

"  While  we  were  debating  in  our  mind  between  the  nat- 
ural emotions  of  paternal  clemency  on  one  side,  and  the 
regard  we  ought  to  pay  to  the  preservation  and  the  future 
security  of  our  kingdom  on  the  other,  and  pondering  what 
resolution  to  take  in  an  affair  of  so  great  difticuly  and  impor- 
tance, it  pleased  the  Almighty  God,  by  his  especial  will  and 
his  just  judgment,  and  by  his  mercy  to  deliver  us  out  of  that 
embarrassment,  and  to  save  our  family  and  kingdom  from 
the  sliame  and  the  dangers  by  abridging-  the  life  of  our  said 
son  Alexis,  after  an  illness  with  which  he  was  seized  as  soon 
as  he  had  heard  the  sentence  of  death  pronounced  against 
liim. 

"  That  illness  appeared  at  lirst  like  an  apoplexy  ;  but  he 
afterwards  recovered  his  senses  and  received  the  holy  sacra- 
ments;  and  having  desired  to  see  us,  we  went  to  liim  im- 
mediately, with  all  our  counselors  and  senators;  and  then  he 
acknowledged  and  sincerely  confessed  all  his  said  faults  anel 
crimes,  conunitted  against  us,  with  tears  and  all  the  marks 
of  a  true  penitent,  an<l  begged  our  pardon,  which,  according 
to  Christian  and  paternal  duty,  we  granted  him ;  after  which, 


360  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

OH  the  Vth  of  July,  at  six  in  the  evening,  he  surrendered  his 
soul  to  God." 

The  tzar  endeavored  to  efface  from  his  memory  these 
tragic  scenes  by  consecrating  himself,  with  new  energy,  to 
the  promotion  of  the  interests  of  Russia.  Utterly  despising 
all  luxurious  indulgence,  he  lived  upon  coarse  fare,  occupied 
plainly-furnished  rooms,  dressed  in  the  extreme  of  simplicity 
and  devoted  himself  to  daily  toil  with  diligence,  which  no 
mechanic  or  peasant  in  the  realm  could  surpass.  The  war 
still  continued  with  Sweden.  On  the  night  of  the  29th  of 
November,  of  this  year,  1718,  the  madman  Charles  XII.  was 
instantly  killed  by  a  cannon  ball  wliich  carried  away  his  head 
as  he  was  leaning  upon  a  parapet,  in  the  siege  of  Frederic- 
shall  in  Norway.  The  death  of  this  indomitable  warrior  quite 
changed  the  aspect  of  European  affairs.  New  combinations 
of  armies  arose  and  new  labyrinths  of  intrigue  were  woven, 
and  for  several  years  wars,  with  their  usual  successes  and  dis- 
asters, continued  to  impoverish  and  depopulate  the  nations  of 
Europe.  At  length  the  tzar  effected  a  peace  with  Sweden, 
that  kingdom  surrendering  to  him  the  large  and  important 
provinces  of  Livonia,  Esthonia,  Ingria  and  Carelia.  This 
was  an  immense  acquisition  for  Russia. 

With  the  utmost  vigilance  the  tzar  watched  the  adminis- 
tration of  all  the  internal  affairs  of  his  empire,  punishing 
fraud,  wherever  found,  with  unrelenting  severity.  The  en- 
tei-prise  which  now,  above  all  otliers,  engaged  his  attention, 
Avas  to  open  direct  communication,  by  means  of  canals,  be- 
tween St.  Petersbuig  and  the  Caspian  Sea.  The  most  skill- 
ful European  engineers  were  employed  upon  this  vast  under- 
taking, by  which  the  waters  of  Lake  Ladoga  were  to  flow 
into  the  Volga,  so  that  the  shores  of  the  Baltic  and  distant 
Persia  might  be  united  in  maritime  commerce.  The  sacred 
Scriptures  were  also,  by  command  of  the  emperor,  translated 
into  the  Russian  language  and  widely  disseminated  throughout 
the  empire.  The  Russian  merchants  were  continually  receiving 


DEATH      OF     THE     TZAR,  361 

insults,  being  plundered  and  often  massacred  b)'  the  barbaric 
tribes  on  tlie  shores  of  the  Caspian.  Peter  fitted  out  a  grand 
expedition  from  Astrachau  for  their  chastisement,  and  went 
himself  to  that  distant  city  to  su2)erintend  the  important  oper- 
ations. A  war  of  twelve  months  brought  those  tribes  into 
subjection,  and  extended  the  Russian  dominion  over  vast  and 
indefinite  regions  there. 

Catharine,  whom  he  seemed  to  love  with  all  tlie  fervor  of 
youth,  accompanied  him  on  this  expedition.  Returning  to 
St.  Petersburg  in  1V24,  Peter  resolved  to  accomplish  a  design 
which  he  for  some  time  had  meditated,  of  placing  the  imperial 
crown  upon  the  l)ro\v  of  his  beloved  wife.  Their  inlimt  son 
had  died.  Tlieir  grandson,  Peter,  the  son  of  Alexis,  Avas  still 
but  a  child,  and  the  failing  health  of  the  tzar  admonished  liiiu 
that  he  had  not  many  years  to  live.  Reposing  great  confi- 
dence in  the  goodness  of  Catharine  and  in  the  wisdom  of 
those  counselors  whom,  witii  his  advice,  she  would  select,  he 
resolved  to  transmit  the  scepter,  at  his  death,  to  her.  In  prep- 
aration for  this  event,  Catharine  was  crowned  Empress  on 
the  I81I1  of  May,  1724,  with  all  possible  pomp. 

The  city  of  Petersburg  had  now  become  one  of  the  most 
important  capitals  of  Europe.  Peter  was  not  only  the  founder 
of  this  city,  but,  in  a  great  measure,  the  architect.  An  ob- 
servatory for  astronomical  purposes  was  reared,  on  the  model 
of  that  in  Paris.  A  valuable  library  was  in  the  ra[)id  progress 
of  collection,  and  there  were  several  cabinets  formed,  filled 
with  the  choicest  treasures  of  nature  and  art.  There  were 
now  in  Russia  a  suflficient  number  of  men  of  genius  and  of 
high  literary  and  scientific  attainment  to  form  an  academy  of 
the  arts  and  sciences,  the  rules  and  institutes  of  which  the 
emperor  drew  uj)  with  his  own  hand. 

While  incessantly  engaged  in  these  arduous  operations, 
the  emperor  was  seized  witii  a  ])ainful  and  dangerous  sickness 
— a  strangury — which  confined  him  to  his  room  for  foiu" 
months.     Feeling   a   little  better   one   day,    he   onlered    his 

16 


362  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

yacht  to  be  brought  up  to  the  Neva,  opposite  his  palace, 
and  embarked  to  visit  some  of  liis  works  on  Lake  Ladoga. 
His  j^hysicians,  vainly  remonstrating  against  it,  accompanied 
him.  It  was  the  middle  of  October.  The  weather  contin- 
uing fine,  the  emperor  remained  upon  the  water,  visiting  his 
works  upon  the  shore  of  the  lake  and  of  the  Gulf  of  Finland, 
until  the  5th  of  November.  The  exposures  of  the  voyage 
proved  too  much  for  him,  and  he  returned  to  Petersburg  in  a 
state  of  debility  and  ^Jfiin  which  excited  the  greatest  appre- 
hensions. 

The  disease  made  rapid  progress.  The  mind  of  the  em- 
peror, as  he  approached  the  dying  hour,  was  clouded,  and, 
with  the  inarticulate  mutterings  of  delirium,  he  turned  to  and 
fro,  restless,  upon  his  bed.  His  devoted  wife,  for  three  days 
and  three  niglits,  did  not  leave  his  side,  and,  on  the  28th  of 
January,  1725,  at  four  o'clock  in  the  afternoon,  he  breathed 
his  last,  in  her  arms. 

Before  the  detlironement  of  his  reason,  the  tzar  had  as- 
sembled around  his  bed  the  chief  dignitaries  of  the  empire, 
and  had  requested  them,  as  soon  as  he  should  be  dead,  to 
aclcnowledge  the  Empress  Catharine  as  their  sovereign.  He 
even  took  the  precaution  to  exact  from  them  an  oatli  that 
they  would  do  this.  Peter  died  in  the  fifty-third  year  of  his 
age.  None  of  the  children  Avhom  he  had  by  his  first  wife 
survived  him.  Both  of  tiie  sons  whom  lie  liad  by  the  Em- 
press Catharine  were  also  dead.  Two  daughters  still  lived. 
After  the  Empress  Catharine,  the  next  heir  t<)  the  throne  was 
Ids  grandson,  Peter,  the  orphan  child  of  the  guilty  Alexis. 

Immediately  upon  the  death  of  the  emperor,  the  senate 
assembled  and  unanimously  declared  Catharine  Empi-ess  of 
Russia.  In  a  body,  they  waited  u[)oii  Catharine  with  this 
announcement,  and  were  presented  to  her  by  Prince  Menzi- 
koff.  The  mourning  for  the  tzar  was  universal  and  heartfelt. 
The  remains  were  convoyed  to  the  tomb  with  all  the  solemni- 
ties becoming  the  bmial  of  one  of  the  greatest  monarchs  earth 


DEATH      OF     THE     TZAR.  363 

has  ever  known.  Over  liis  reniiuns  the  empress  erected  a 
monument  sculptured  by  the  most  accomplished  artists  of 
Italy,  containing  the  follow  ing  inscription  : 

HERE   LIETH 
ALL   THAT   COULD   DIE   OF   A   MAN   IMMORTAL, 

PETER   ALEXOUITZ; 

IT   IS   ALMOST   SUPERFLUOUS   TO   ADD 

GREAT  EMPEROR  OP  RUSSIA; 

A    TITLE 

WHICH,    INSTEAD   OF   ADDING   TO   HIS   GLORY, 

BECAME   GLORIOUS   BY   HIS   WEARING   IT. 

LET   ANTIQUITY   BE   DUMB, 

NOR   BOAST   HER   ALEXANDER   OR   HER   C^SAR. 

HOW   EASY   WAS  VICTORY 

TO   LEADERS   WHO   WERE   FOLLOWED   BY   HEROES, 

AND   WHOSE   SOLDIERS   FELT   A   NOBLE   DISDAIN 

AT   BEDCG   THOUGHT   LESS   VIGILAXI   THAN   THEIR   GENERALS  I 

BUT   HE, 

WHO    IN     THIS     PLACE     FIRST     KNEW     REST, 

FODND    SUBJECTS     EASE    AND     INACTIVE, 

UNWARLIKE,    UNLEARNED,    UNTRACTABLE, 

NEITHER   COVETOUS   OF    FAME   NOR   FEARLESS   OF  DANGER 

CREATURES   WITH   THE   NAMES   OP   MEN, 

BUT   WITH   QUALITIES   RATHER   BRUTAL   THAN   RATIONAL 

YET   EVEN   THESE 

HE  POLISHED   FROM  THEIR  NATIVE  RUGGEDNBSS, 

AND,   BREAKING  OUT  LIKE   A  NEW  SUN 

TO  ILLUMINE   THE   MINDS   OF   A   PEOPLE, 

DISPELLED   THEIR   NIGHT   OF   HEREDITARY   DARKNESS, 

AND,   BY   FORCE   OP   HIS   INVINCIBLE    INFLUENCE, 

TAUGHT   THEM   TO   CONQUER 

EVEN  THE  CONQUERORS  OF  GERMANY. 

OTHER  PRINCES  HAVE   COMMANDED  VICTORIOUS   ARMIES; 

THIS   COMMANDER   CREATED   THEM. 

EXULT,    0  NATURE  I    FOR  THINE  WAS  THIS  PRODIGY. 

BLUSH,   0   ARTl    AT   A   HERO  WHO   OWED  THEE   NOTHING; 


CHAPTER    XXII. 

THE   EEIGNS    OF   CATHARINE    I..   ANNE,    THE    INFANT    IVAN" 
AND    ELIZABETH. 

From  1725  to  1762. 

Energetic  Eeiqn  of  Catharine. — Her  Sudden  Death. — Brief  Eeign  of  Peter  If. — 
Difficulties  of  Hereditarv  Succession. — A  Republic  Contemplated.— Anne, 
Daucuter  of  Ivan.— The  Infant  Ivan  Proclaimed  King —His  Terrible  Doo.m. 
—Elizabeth,  Daugiitrr  of  Peter  the  Great  Enthroned. — Character  of  Eliza- 
beth.— Alliance  with  Maria  Theresa. — Wars  with  Prussia.— Great  Keverses 
OP  Frederic  of  Prussia. — Desperate  Condition  of  Erederic. — Death  op  Eliza- 
beth.— Succession  of  Peter  III. 

^PHE  new  empress,  Catharine  I.,  was  already  exceedingly 
-L  popular,  and  she  rose  rapidly  in  public  esteem  by  the 
wisdom  and  vigor  of  her  administration.  Early  in  June  her 
eldest  daughter,  Anne,  was  married  with  much  pomp  to  the 
Duke  of  Holstein.  It  was  a  great  novelty  to  the  Russians  to 
see  a  woman  upon  the  throne ;  and  the  neighboring  States 
seemed  inspired  with  courage  to  commence  encroachments, 
thinking  that  they  had  but  little  to  apprehend  from  the  feeble 
arm  of  a  queen.  Poland,  Sweden  and  Denmark  were  all  ani- 
mated with  the  hope  that  the  time  had  now  come  in  which 
they  could  recover  those  portions  of  territory  which,  during 
past  wars,  had  been  wrested  from  them  by  Russia. 

Catharine  was  fully  aware  of  the  dangers  thus  impending, 
and  adopted  such  vigorous  measures  for  augmenting  the  army 
and  the  fleet  as  speedily  to  dispel  the  iUusion.  Catharine 
vigorously  prosecuted  the  measures  her  husband  had  intro- 
duced for  the  promotion  of  the  civilization  and  enlightenment 
of  her  subjects.  She  took  great  care  of  the  young  prince 
Peter,  son  of  the  deceased  Alexis,  and  endeavored  in  all  ways 


THE     KEIGN      OF     CATUAKINE     I.  365 

to  educate  hiin  so  that  he  might  he  worthy  to  succeed  her 
upon  the  tlivone.  This  young  man,  the  grandson  of  Peter  the 
Great,  was  the  only  prince  in  whose  veins  flowed  the  blood 
of  the  tzars. 

The  academy  of  sciences  at  St.  Petersburg,  which  Peter 
had  founded,  was  sedulously  fostered  by  Catharine.  The 
health  of  the  empress  was  feeble  when  she  ascended  the  throne, 
and  it  rapidly  declined.  She,  however,  continued  to  apply 
herself  with  great  assiduity  to  public  afiiiirs  until  the  middle 
of  April,  when  she  was  obliged  to  take  her  bed.  There  is  no 
"  royal  road"  to  death.  After  four  weeks  of  suftering  and  all 
the  humbling  concomitants  of  disease  and  approaching  dis- 
solution, the  empress  breathed  her  last  at  nine  o'clock  in  the 
evening  of  the  10th  of  May,  1727,  after  a  reign  of  but  little 
more  than  two  years,  and  in  the  forty-second  year  of  her  age. 

Upon  her  death-bed  Cathaiine  declared  Peter  II.,  the  son 
of  Alexis,  her  successor;  and  as  he  was  but  twelve  years  of 
age,  a  regency  was  establislied  during  his  minority.  Menzi- 
kofi',  however",  the  illustrious  favorite  of  Peter  the  Great,  who 
had  been  appointed  by  Catharine  generalissimo  of  all  the  ar- 
mies both  by  land  and  sea,  attained  such  supremacy  that  he 
was  in  reality  sovereign  of  the  empire.  During  the  reign  of 
Catharine  Russia  presented  the  extraordinary  spectacle  of  one 
of  the  most  powerful  and  aristocratic  kingdoms  on  the  globe 
governed  by  an  empress  whose  origin  was  that  of  a  nameless 
girl  found  weeping  in  the  streets  of  a  sacked  town — wliile 
there  rode,  at  the  head  of  the  armies  of  the  empire,  towering 
above  giand  dukes  and  pi'inces  of  the  blood,  the  son  of  apeas- 
sant,  who  had  passed  his  childhood  the  apprentice  of  a  pastry 
cook,  selling  cakes  in  the  streets  of  Moscow.  Such  changes 
would  iiave  been  oxti-aordinary  at  any  period  of  time  and  in 
any  quarter  of  the  world  ;  but  that  they  should  have  occurred 
in  Russia,  where  fur  ages  so  haughty  an  aristocracy  had  dom- 
inated, seems  almost  miiaculous.  iMenzikoiF,  elated  by  the 
power  which  the  minority  of  the  king  gave  him,  assumed  such 


366  THE     E  M  P  I  K  E      OF      K  U  S  S  I  A  . 

airs  as  to  excite  the  most  bitter  spirit  of  hostility  among  the 
nobles.  They  succeeded  in  working  his  ruin ;  and  the  boy 
emperor  banished  him  to  Siberia  and  confiscated  his  immense 
estates.  The  bl<.)\v  was  fatal.  Sinking  into  the  most  piofound 
melancholy,  Menzikofl' lingered  for  a  few  months  in  the  dreary 
region  of  his  exile,  and  died  in  1729.  Peter  the  Second  did 
not  long  survive  him.  But  little  more  than  two  years  elapsed 
after  the  death  of  Catharine,  when  he,  being  then  a  lad  of  but 
fourteen  years  of  age,  was  seized  with  the  small-pox  and  died 
the  19th  of  January,  1730.  One  daughter  of  Peter  the  Great 
and  of  Catharine  still  survived. 

Some  of  the  principal  of  the  nobility,  seeing  how  many 
difficulties  attended  hereditary  succession,  which  at  one  time 
placed  the  crown  upon  the  brow  of  a  babe  in  the  cradle, 
again  upon  a  semi-idiot,  and  again  upon  a  bloated  and  infa- 
mous debauchee,  conferred  upon  the  subject  of  changing  the 
government  into  a  republic.  But  Russia  was  not  prepared  for 
a  leform  so  sudden  and  so  vast.  After  much  debate  it  was 
decided  to  offer  the  crown  to  Anne,  Duchess  of  Courland, 
who  was  second  daughter  of  the  imbecile  Ivan,  who,  for  a 
short  time,  had  nominally  occni»ied  the  throne,  associated  with 
liis  brother  Peter  the  Great.  She  had  an  elder  sister,  Catha- 
rine, who  was  raarrie(i  to  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg.  So  far 
as  the  right  of  birth  was  concerned,  Catharine  was  first  en- 
titled to  the  succession.  But  as  the  Duke  of  Mecklenburg, 
whose  grand  duchy  bordered  upon  the  Baltic,  aiid  which  was 
equal  to  about  one  half  the  State  of  Massacliusetts,  was  en- 
gaged in  a  kind  of  civil  war  with  his  nobles,  it  was  there- 
fore thought  best  to  pass  her  by,  lest  the  empire  should 
become  involved  in  the  strife  in  which  her  husband  was  en- 
gaged. As  Ivan  was  the  elder  brother,  it  was  thought  that 
his  daughters  should  have  the  precedence  over  those  of 
Peter. 

Another  consideration  also  influenced  the  nobles  who  tgok 
the  k-ail  in  selecting  .\iiiu'.     They  thought  that  she  was  a  wo- 


THE     EEIGN      OF     A:N^NE.  367 

man  whom  tlK'v  could  more  easily  control  than  Catharine. 
These  nobles  accordingly  framed  a  new  conslitulion  tor  the  em- 
pire, limiting  the  autliority  of  the  queen  to  suit  their  purposes. 
But  Aiuie  was  no  sooner  seated  upon  the  throne,  than  she 
grasjjcd  the  scepter  with  vigor  whicli  astounded  all.  She 
banished  the  nobles  who  had  interfered  with  the  royal  prerog- 
atives, and  canceled  all  the  limitations  they  had  made.  She 
selected  a  very  able  ministry,  and  gave  the  command  of  her 
armies  to  the  most  experienced  generals.  While  sagacity  and 
efficiency  marked  her  short  administration,  and  Russia  con- 
tinued to  expand  and  prosper,  no  events  of  special  importance 
occurred.  She  united  her  armies  wdth  those  of  the  Emperor 
of  Germany  in  resisting  the  encroacinnents  of  France.  She 
waged  successful  war  against  the  Turks,  who  had  attempted 
to  recover  Azof.  In  this  war,  the  Crimean  Tartars  w^ere 
crushed,  and  Russian  influence  crowded  its  way  into  the  im- 
mense Crimean  peninsula.  The  energies  of  Anne  caused 
Russia  to  be  respected  throughout  Europe. 

As  the  empress  had  no  children,  she  sent  for  her  niece  and 
namesake,  Anne,  daughter  of  her  elder  sister,  Catharine, 
Duchess  of  Mecklenburg,  and  married  her  to  one  of  tiie  most 
distinguished  nobles  of  her  court,  resolved  to  call  the  issue  of 
this  marriage  to  the  succession.  On  the  12th  of  August, 
1740,  this  princess  was  delivered  of  a  son,  who  was  named 
Ivan.  The  empress  immediately  pronounced  him  lier  succes- 
sor, placing  him  under  the  guardianship  of  his  parents.  The 
health  of  the  empress  was  at  this  time  rajjidly  failing,  and  it 
was  evident  to  all  that  her  death  was  not  liir  distant.  In  an- 
ticipation of  death,  she  appointed  one  of  lier  favorites,  John 
Ernestus  Biron,  regent,  during  the  minority  of  the  prince. 
Baron  Osterman,  high  chancellor  of  Russia,  had  the  rank  of 
prime  minister,  and  Count  Munich,  a  soldier  of  distinguished 
reputation,  was  placed  in  the  command  of  the  armies,  with 
the  title  of  field  marshal.  These  were  the  last  administrative 
acts  of  Anne.     The  king  of  terrors  came  with  his  inevitable 


368  THE      EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

summons.     After  a  few  weeks  of  languor  and   suffering,  the 
queen  expired  in  October,  1740. 

A  babe,  two  months  old,  was  now  Emperor  of  Russia. 
Tile  senate  immediately  met  and  acknowledged  the  legitimacy 
of  his  claims.  The  foreign  embassadors  presented  to  him 
then'  credentials,  and  the  Marquis  of  Chetardie,  the  French 
minister,  i-everentially  approaching  the  cradle,  made  the  im- 
pel ially  mnjestic  baby  a  congratulatory  speech,  addressing  liim 
as  Ivan  Y.,  Emperor  of  all  the  Russias,  and  assuring  him  of 
the  friendship  of  Louis  XV.,  sovereign  of  France. 

The  regent,  as  was  usually  the  case,  arrogating  authority 
and  splendor,  soon  became  excessively  unpopular,  and  a  con- 
sjjiracy  of  the  nobles  was  formed  for  his  overthrow.  On  the 
night  of  the  17th  of  November  the  conspirators  met  in  the. 
palace  of  the  giand  duchess,  Anne,  mother  of  the  infant 
emperor,  unanimously  named  her  regent  of  the  empire,  ar- 
rested Biron,  and  condemned  him  to  death,  whicli  sentence 
was  subsequently  commuted  to  Siberian  exile. 

Elizabeth,  the  daughter  of  Petei-,  was  now  thirty-eight 
vears  of  age.  Though  very  beautiful,  she  was  unmai'ried, 
and  resided  in  the  palace  in  a  state  of  splendid  captivity.  A 
party  now  arose  who  secretly  conspired  to  overthrow  the 
i-egency  of  Anne,  and  to  depose  the  infant  Ivan  and  place 
Elizabeth  upon  the  throne.  The  plot  being  fully  matured,  on 
the  night  of  the  5th  of  December  a  body  of  armed  men  re- 
paired to  the  palace,  where  they  met  Elizabeth,  who  was 
ready  to  receive  them,  and  marched,  with  her  at  their  head, 
to  the  bari'acks,  where  she  was  enthusiastically  received  by 
the  soldiers.  Tlie  spirit  of  her  father  seemed  at  once  to 
inspire  her  soul.  With  a  voice  of  authority,  as  if  born  to 
conimand,  she  ordered  the  regiments  to  march  to  different 
quarters  of  the  city  and  to  seize  all  the  prominent  officers  of 
the  government.  Then  leading,  herself,  a  regiment  to  the 
palace,  she  took  possession  of  the  infant  emperor  and  of  his 
mother,  the  regent.     They  were  held  in  caj^tivit}',  though,  at 


THE      REIGN      OE     ELIZABETH.  369 

first,  treated  with  all  the  consideration  wliicli  became  their 
birth. 

This  revoliilidu  was  accepted  by  tlie  people  with  the  loud- 
est denioiistratioiis  of  joy.  The  memory  of  Peter  the  Great 
was  enslnined  in  every  heart,  and  ah  exulted  in  placing  the 
crown  upon  liis  daughter's  brow.  The  next  morning,  at  the 
head  of  the  royal  guards  and  all  the  other  troops  of  tlie 
metropolis,  Elizabeth  was  proclaimed  Empress  of  Russia. 
In  one  week  from  this  time,  tlie  deposed  infant  emperor, 
Ivan,  who  was  then  thirteen  months  old,  was  sent,  with  liis 
parents,  from  Petersburg  to  Riga,  where  tliey  were  for  a 
long  time  detained  in  a  castle  as  prisoneis.  Two  efforts 
which  they  made  for  escape  were  frustrated. 

This  conspiracy,  which  was  carried  to  so  successful  a  result, 
was  mainly  founded  in  the  hostility  with  which  tlie  Russians 
regarded  the  foreigners  who  had  been  so  freely  introduced  to 
the  empire  by  Peter  the  Great,  and  who  occupied  so  many 
of  the  most  important  posts  in  the  State.  Thus  the  succession 
of  Elizabeth  was,  in  flict,  a  counter  revolution,  arresting  the 
progress  of  reform  and  moving  Russia  back  again  tow^ard  the 
ancient  barbarism.  But  Elizabeth  soon  expended  her  par- 
oxysm of  energy,  and  surrendered  herself  to  luxury  and  to 
sensual  indulgence  unsurpassed  by  any  debauchee  who  ever 
occupied  a  throne.  Jealous  of  sharing  her  power,  she  refused 
to  take  a  husband,  though  many  guilty  favorites  were  received 
to  her  utmost  intimacy. 

The  doom  of  the  deposed  Ivan  and  his  parents  was  sad, 
indeed.  They  were  removed  for  safe  keeping  to  an  island  hi 
the  White  Sea,  fifty  miles  beyond  Archangel,  a  region  as 
desolate  as  the  imagination  can  well  conceive.  Here,  after  a 
year  of  cai)tivity,  the  infant  Ivan  was  torn  from  his  niotlier 
and  removed  to  the  monastery  of  Oranienburg,  where  he  was 
brought  up  in  the  utmost  seclusion,  not  being  allowed  to 
learn  either  to  read  or  write.  The  bereaved  mother,  Ann<', 
lingered  a  couple  of  years  imtil   she  wept  away  her  life,  and 

16* 


C-VO  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

found  the  repose  of  the  grave  in  1746.  Her  husband  survived 
thirty  years  longer,  and  died  in  prison  in  1775.  It  was  an 
awful  doom  for  one  who  had  committed  no  crime.  The 
whole  course  of  history  proves  that  in  this  life  we  see  but  the 
commencement  of  a  divine  government,  and  that  "  after  death 
comelh  the  judgment." 

A  humane  monk,  taking  pity  u])on  the  unfortunate  little 
Ivan,  attempted  to  escape  with  him.  He  had  reached  Smo- 
lensk, when  he  was  arrested.  The  unhappy  prince  was  then 
conveyed  to  the  castle  of  Schlusselburg,  where  he  was  im- 
mersed in  a  dungeon  which  no  ray  of  the  sun  could  ever  j^en- 
eti'ate.  A  single  lamp  burning  in  his  cell  only  revealed  its 
horrors.  The  prince  could  not  distinguish  day  from  night, 
and  had  no  means  of  computing  the  passage  of  the  hours. 
Food  was  left  in  his  cell,  and  the  attendants,  who  occasionally 
entered,  were  prohibited  from  holding  any  conversation  with 
the  child.  This  treatment,  absolutely  infernal,  soon  reduced 
the  innocent  prince  to  a  state  almost  of  idiocy. 

T\nce  Elizabeth  ordered  him  to  be  brought  to  Petersburg, 
where  she  conversed  with  him  without  letting  him  know  who 
she  was  ;  but  she  did  nothing  to  alleviate  his  horrible  doom. 
After  the  death  of  Elizabeth,  her  successor,  Peter  III.,  made 
Ivan  a' visit,  without  making  himself  known.  Touched  with 
such  an  aspect  of  misery,  he  ordered  an  apartment  to  be  built 
in  an  angle  of  the  fortress,  for  Ivan,  who  had  now  attained 
the  age  of  manhood,  where  he  could  enjoy  air  and  light.  The 
sudden  death  of  Peter  defeated  this  purpose,  and  Ivan  was 
left  in  his  misery.  Still  weary  years  passed  away  while  the 
prince,  dead  to  himself  as  well  as  to  the  world,  remained 
breathing  in  his  tomb.  Catharine  II.,  after  her  accession  to 
the  throne,  called  to  see  Ivan.     She  thus  describes  her  visit : 

"After  we  had  ascended  the  throne,  and  offered  up  to 
Heaven  our  just  thanksgivings,  the  first  object  that  emj)loyed 
our  thoughts,  in  consequence  of  that  humanity  which  is  nat- 
ural to  us,  was  the  unhappy  situation   of   that   prince,  who 


THE     KKlG:jf      OF      KLIZABETU,  371 

was  dethroned  by  divine  Providence,  and  liad  been  unfortu- 
nate ever  since  his  birth  ;  and  we  formed  the  resolution  of 
alleviating  his  misfortunes  as  far  as  possible. 

"  We  immediately  made  a  visit  to  him  in  order  to  judge 
of  his  understanding  and  talents,  and  to  procure  him  a  situa- 
tion suitable  to  his  character  and  education.  But  how  great 
was  our  surprise  to  find,  that  in  addition  to  a  defect  in  his  ut- 
terance, which  rendered  it  difficult  for  him  to  speak,  and  still 
more  difficult  to  be  understood,  we  observed  an  almost  total 
depri\ation  of  sense  and  reason.  Those  who  accompanied  us, 
dui-ing  this  intei'view,  saw  how  much  our  heart  suffi^red  at 
the  contemplation  of  an  object  so  fitted  to  excite  compassion  ; 
they  were  also  convinced  that  the  only  measure  we  could  take 
to  succor  the  unfortunate  prince  was  to  leave  him  where  we 
found  him,  and  to  procure  him  all  the  comforts  and  conven- 
iences his  situation  would  admit  of.  We  accordingly  gave 
our  orders  for  this  purpose,  though  the  state  he  was  in  pre- 
vented his  perceiving  the  marks  of  our  humanity  or  being 
sensible  of  our  attention  and  care ;  for  he  knew  nobody, 
could  not  distinguish  between  good  and  evil,  nor  did  he 
know  the  use  that  might  be  made  of  reading,  to  pass  the 
time  with  less  weariness  and  disgust.  On  the  contrary,  he 
sought  pleasure  in  objects  that  discovered  with  sufficient 
evidence  the  disorder  of  his  imagination." 

Soon  after  this  poor  Ivan  was  cruelly  assassinated.  An 
officer  in  the  Russian  army,  named  Mirovitch,  conceived  an 
absurd  plan  of  liberating  Ivan  from  his  captivity,  restoring 
liim  to  the  thionc,  and  consigning  Cathaiine  II.  to  the  dun- 
geon the  prince  had  so  long  inhabited.  Mirovitch  had  com- 
mand of  the  ganison  at  Schlusselburg,  where  Ivan  was  im- 
prisoned. Taking  advantage  of  the  absence  of  the  empress, 
on  a  journey  to  Livonia,  he  proceeded  to  the  castle,  with  a 
few  soldiers  whose  coo|.>eration  he  had  secured  through  the 
influence  of  brandy  and  promises,  knocked  down  the  com- 
mandant of  the  f(;rtress  with  the  butt  end  of  a  musket,  and 


372  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

ordered  the  officers  who  had  command  of  the  prisoner  to 
bring  him  to  them.  These  -officers  had  received  the  secret 
injunction  that  should  the  rescue  of  the  prince  ever  be  at- 
tempted, tliey  were  to  put  him  to  death  rather  than  permit 
him  to  be  carried  off.  They  accordingly  entered  his  cell, 
and  thougli  the  helpless  captive  made  the  most  desperate 
resistance,  they  speedily  cut  him  down  with  their  swords. 

History  has  few  narratives  so  extraordinary  as  the  fate  of 
Ivan.  A  forced  marriage  was  arranged  that  a  cliild  might  be 
generated  to  inherit  the  Russian  throne.  When  this  child 
M-as  but  a  few  days  old  he  was  declared  emperor  of  all  the 
Russias,  and  received  the  congratulations  of  the  tbreign  em- 
bassadors. When  thirteen  munllis  of  age  he  was  deposed, 
and  for  the  crime  of  being  a  king,  was  thrown  into  cajjtivity. 
To  prevent  others  from  using  him  as  the  instrument  of  their 
purposes,  he  was  thrown  into  a  dungeon,  and  excluded  from 
all  huusau  intercourse,  so  that  like  a  deaf  child  he  could  not 
even  acquire  the  power  of  speech.  For  him  there  was  neither 
clouds  nor  sunshine,  day  nor  night,  summer  nor  winter.  He 
hod  no  employment,  no  amusement,  no  food  for  thought,  ab- 
solutely nothing  to  mark  the  passage  of  the  weary  hours. 
The  mind  became  paralyzed  and  almost  idiotic  by  such  enor- 
mous woe.  Such  was  his  doom  for  twenty-four  years.  He 
was  born  in  17-40,  and  assassinated  under  the  reign  of  Catha- 
rine n.,  in  1764.  The  father  of  Ivan  remained  in  prison 
eleven  years  longer  until  he  died. 

From  this  tragedy  let  us  turn  back  to  the  reign  of  Eliza- 
beth. It  was  the  great  object  of  this  princess  to  undo  all 
that  her  illustrious  father  had  done,  to  roll  back  all  the  re- 
forms he  had  commenced,  and  to  restore  to  the  empire  its 
ancient  usages  and  prejudices.  The  hostility  to  foreigners 
became  so  bitter,  that  the  queen's  guard  formed  a  conspir- 
acy for  a  general  massacre,  which  should  sweep  them  all  from 
the  empire.  EHzabeth,  conscious  of  the  horror  such  an  act 
would  inspire  througliout  Europe,  was  greatly  alarmed,  and 


THE      KEIGX      OF      ELIZABETH.  373 

was  compelled   to   issue  a  proclamation   in  defense  of  their 
lives. 

"  The  empress,"  she  said  in  tliis  proclamation,  "  can  never 
forget  how  much  foreigners  have  contributed  to  the  prosi»erity 
of  Russia.  And  though  her  subjects  will  at  all  limes  enjoy  her 
favors  in  preference  to  foreigners,  yet  the  foreigners  m  her 
service  are  as  dear  to  her  as  her  own  subjects,  and  may  rely 
on  her  protection." 

In  the  mean  time,  Elizabeth  was  prosecuting  with  great 
vigor  the  hereditary  war  with  Sweden.  Russia  was  constantly 
gaining  in  this  conflict,  and  at  length  the  Swedes  purchased 
peace  by  surrendering  to  the  Russians  extensive  territories  in 
Finland.  The  favor  of  Russia  was  still  more  effectually  pur- 
chased by  the  Swedes  choosing  for  their  king,  Adolpus  Fred- 
eric, Duke  of  the  Russian  province  of  Holstein,  and  kinsman 
of  Elizabeth.  The  boundaries  of  Russia  were  thus  enlarged, 
and  Sweden  became  almost  a  tributary  province  of  the  gigan- 
tic empire. 

Maria  Theresa  was  now  Empress  of  Austria,  and  she  suc- 
ceeded in  enlisting  the  cooperation  of  Elizabeth  in  her  unre- 
lenting warfare  with  Frederic  of  Prussia.  Personal  hostility 
also  exasperated  Elizabeth  against  the  Prussian  jnonarch,  for 
in  some  of  his  writings  he  had  spoken  disparagingly  of  the 
humble  birth  of  Elizabeth's  motlier,  Catharine,  the  wife  of 
Peter  the  First ;  and  a  still  more  unpardonable  offense  he  had 
committed,  when.  Hushed  with  w^ne,  at  a  table  where  the 
Russian  embassador  was  present,  he  had  indulged  in  wiiti 
cisms  in  reference  to  the  notorious  gallantries  of  tiie  empress. 
A  woman  who  could  plunge  into  the  wildest  excesses  of  li- 
centiousness, still  had  sensibility  enough  to  resent  the  taunts 
of  the  royal  philosopher.  In  1753,  Elizabeth  and  Maria 
Theresa  entered  into  an  agreement  to  resist  all  further  aug- 
mentation of  the  Prussian  i)Ower.  In  the  bloody  Seven 
Years'  War  between  Frederic  and  Maiia  Theresa,  the  heart 
of  Elizabeth   was  always  with  the  Austrian  queen,  and  for 


374  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

five  of  those  years  their  armies  fought  side  by  side.  In  the 
year  1759,  Ehzabeth  sent  an  army  of  one  hundred  thousand 
men  into  Prussia.  They  committed  every  outrage  which 
fiends  could  perpetrate ;  and  though  victorious  over  tlie 
armies  of  Frederic,  they  rendered  the  country  so  utterly 
desolate,  that  through  famine  they  were  compelled  to  retreat. 
Burning  villages  and  mangled  corpses  marked  their  path. 

The  next  year,  1758,  another  Russian  army  invaded  Prus- 
sia, overran  nearly  the  whole  kingdom,  and  captured  Konigs- 
burg.  The  victorious  Russians  thinking  that  all  of  Prussia 
was  to  be  annexed  to  their  dominions,  began  to  treat  the 
Prussians  tenderly  and  as  countrymen.  An  order  was  read 
from  the  churches,  that  if  any  Prussian  had  cause  of  com- 
plaint against  any  Russian,  he  should  present  it  at  the  mili- 
tary chancery  at  Konigsburg,  where  he  would  infallibly  have 
redress.  The  inhabitants  of  the  conquered  realm  were  all 
obliged  to  swear  fealty  to  the  Empress  of  Russia.  The 
Prussian  army  was  at  this  time  in  Silesia,  struggling  against 
the  troops  of  Maria  Theresa.  The  warlike  Fiederic  soon  re- 
turned at  the  head  of  his  indomitable  hosts,  and  attacking 
the  Russians  about  six  miles  from  Kustrin,  defeated  them  in 
one  of  the  most  bloody  battles  on  record,  and  drove  the 
shattered  battalions,  humiliated  and  bleeding,  out  of  the 
territory. 

The  summer  of  1759  again  found  the  Russian  troops  spread 
over  the  Prussian  territory.  In  great  force  the  two  hostile 
armies  soon  met  on  the  banks  of  the  Oder.  The  Russians, 
posted  upon  a  line  of  commanding  heights,  numbered  seventy 
thousand.  Frederic  fiercely  assailed  them  through  the  most 
formidable  disadvantages,  with  but  thirty  thousand  men.  The 
slaughter  of  the  Prussians  was  fearful,  and  Frederic,  after 
losing  nearly  eight  thousand  of  his  best  troops  in  killed  and 
wounded  and  prisoners,  sullenly  retired.  The  Russian  troops 
were  now  strengthened  by  a  reinlbrcement  of  twelve  thousand 
of  the  choicest  of  the  Austrian  cavalry,  and  still  presenting, 


THE     REIGN      OF      ELIZABETH.  375 

notwitlistanding  their  losses,  a  solid  front  of  ninety  tliousand 
men.  Frederic,  bringing  every  nerve  into  action,  succeeded 
in  collecting  and  bringing  again  into  the  field  tifty  thousand 
troops.*  Notwithstanding  the  disjtarity  in  numbers,  it  seemed 
absolutely  necessary  that  the  King  of  Prussia  should  light,  for 
tlie  ncliest  part  of  his  dominions  was  in  the  hands  of  the 
allied  l-'russians  and  Austrians,  and  Berlin  was  menaced.  The 
iield  of  battle  was  on  the  banks  of  the  Oder,  near  Frankfort. 

On  the  12th  of  June,  1759,  at  two  o'clock  in  the  morning, 
the  King  of  Prussia  formed  his  troops  in  battle  array,  behind 
a  forest  which  concealed  his  movements  from  the  enemy.  The 
battle  was  commenced  with  a  fierce  cannonade ;  and  in  the 
midst  of  the  thunderings  and  carnage  of  this  tempest  of  war, 
solid  columns  emerged  from  the  ranks  of  the  Prussians  and 
pierced  the  Russian  lines.  The  attack  was  too  impetuous  to 
be  resisted.  From  post  to  post  the  Prussians  advanced,  driv- 
ing the  foe  befoi'e  them,  and  covering  the  ground  with  the 
slain.  For  six  hours  of  almost  unparalleled  slaughter  the  vic- 
tory was  with  the  Prussians.  Seventy-two  pieces  of  cannon  fell 
into  the  hands  of  the  victors,  and  at  every  point  the  Russians 
were  retreating.  Frederic,  in  his  exultation,  scribbhid  a  note 
to  the  empress,  upon  the  field  of  battle,  with  the  pommel  of 
his  saddle  for  a  tablet,  and  dispatched  it  to  her  by  a  courier. 
It  was  as  follows : 

"  Madam  :  we  have  beat  the  Russians  from  their  entrench- 
ments.    In  two  hours  expect  to  hear  of  a  glorious  victory." 

But  in  less  than  two  hours  the  tide  of  victory  turned.  The 
day  was  one  of  excessive  heat.  An  unclouded  sun  poured  its 
burning  rays  upon  the  field,  and  at  midday  the  troops  and  the 
horses,  having  been  engaged  for  six  hours  in  one  of  the  se- 
verest actions  which  was  ever  known,  were  utterly  beat  out 
and  fainting  with  exhaustion.  Just  then  the  whole  body  of 
the  Russi.ui   and   Austrian    cavali-y,  some   fourteen   thousiuid 

*  Some  authorities  give  the  Russians  eighty  thousand  and  the  Prussians 
forty  tliousand. 


376  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

strong,  which  thus  far  had  remained  inactive,  came  rushing 
upon  the  plain  as  with  the  roar  and  the  sweej:*  of  tlie  whirl- 
wind. The  Ibc  fell  before  them  as  the  withered  grass  before 
the  prairie  tire.  Frederic  was  astounded  by  lliis  sudden  re- 
verse, and  in  the  anguish  of  his  spirit  plunged  into  the  thickest 
of  the  conflict.  Two  horses  were  shot  beneath  him.  His 
clothes  weie  riddled  with  balls.  Another  courier  was  dis- 
patched to  the  empress  from  the  sanguinary  field,  in  the  hot- 
test speed.     Tlie  note  he  bore  was  as  follows: 

"  Remove  from  Berlin  with  the  royal  family.  Let  the 
archives  be  carried  to  Potsdam,  aud  the  capital  make  condi- 
tions with  the  enemy." 

As  night  approached,  Frederic  assembled  the  fragments 
of  his  army,  exhausted  and  bleeding,  upon  some  heights,  and 
threw  up  redoubts  for  their  protection.  Twenty  thousand  of 
his  troops  \^ere  left  upon  the  fiehi  or  in  the  hands  of  the  enemy. 
Every  camion  he  had  was  taken.  Scarcely  a  general  or  an 
inferior  officer  escaped  un  wounded,  and  a  large  number  of  his 
most  vaUiable  officers  were  slain.  It  was  an  awful  defeat  and 
an  awful  slaughter. 

Fortunately  for  Frederic  the  losses  of  the  Russians  had  also 
been  so  terrible  that  they  did  not  venture  to  pursue  the  toe. 
Early  the  next  morning  the  Prussian  king  crossed  the  Oder; 
and  the  Russians,  encumbered  with  the  thousands  of  their 
own  mutilated  and  dying  troops,  thought  it  not  prudent  to 
march  upon  Berlin.  The  war  still  raged  furiously,  the  allies 
being  inspirited  by  hope  and  Frederic  by  despair.  At  length 
the  affiiirs  of  Prussia  became  quite  hopeless,  and  the  Prussian 
monarcli  was  in  a  position  from  which  no  earthly  energy  or  sa- 
gacity could  extricate  him.  The  Russians  and  Austrians,  in  »e- 
sistless  numbers,  were  spread  over  all  his  provinces  excepting 
Saxony,  where  the  great  Fi-ederic  was  entirely  hemmed  up. 

The  Prussian  king  was  fully  conscious  of  the  desperation 
of  his  affairs,  and,  thougli  one  of  the  most  stoical  and  stern 
of  men,  he  experienced  the  acutest  anguish.     For  hours  he 


THE     K  E  I  G  N      OF     E  L  I  Z  A  15  E  T  H  .  377 

paced  the  floor  of  his  tent,  absorbed  in  llionghl,  seUloin  ex- 
changing a  word  with  his  generals,  wlio  stood  silently  by, 
liaviiig  no  word  to  utter  of  counsel  or  encouragement.  Just 
then  God  mysteriously  interposed  and  saved  Prussia  from  dis- 
memberment, and  the  name  of  her  monarch  from  ignominy. 
The  Empress  of  llussia  had  been  for  some  time  in  tiiiling 
health,  and  the  yi-ar  17G2  had  but  just  dawned,  when  the  en- 
rapturing tidings  were  conveyed  to  the  camp  of  the  despair- 
ing Prussians  that  Elizabeth  was  dead.  This  event  dispelled 
midnight  gloom  and  caused  the  sun  to  shine  brightly  upon  the 
Prussian  fortunes. 

The  nejihew  of  the  empress,  Peter  III.,  who  succeeded  her 
on  her  throne,  had  long  expressed  his  warm  admiration  of 
Fredei'ic  of  Prussia,  had  visited  his  court  at  Berlin,  where  he 
was  received  with  the  most  flattering  attentions,  and  had  en- 
throned the  warlike  Frederic  in  his  heart  as  the  model  of  a 
hero.  He  had  even,  during  the  war,  secretly  written  letters 
to  Frederic  expressive  of  his  admiration,  and  had  commimi- 
cated  to  him  secrets  of  the  Russian  cabinet  and  theii'  plans  of 
operation.  The  elevatinn  of  Peter  III.  to  the  throne  was  the 
signal,  not  only  for  the  withdrawal  of  the  Russian  troops  fcom 
the  Austrian  alliance,  but  for  the  direct  inarching  of  those 
troops  as  allies  into  the  camp  of  the  Prussians.  Thus  sudden 
are  the  mutations  of  war  ;  thus  inexplicable  are  the  combina- 
tions of  destiny. 

Elizabeth  died  in  the  fifty-second  year  of  her  age,  after  a 
reign  of  twenty  yeais.  She  was  durhig  her  whole  reign  mainly 
devoted  to  sensual  pleasure,  drinking  intoxicating  liquoi'S  im- 
moderately, and  surrendering  herself  to  the  most  exti'aordi- 
nary  licentiousnciss.  Though  ever  refusing  to  recognize  the 
claims  of  marriage,  she  was  the  mother  of  several  cliildren, 
and  her  favorites  can  not  easily  be  enumerated.  Her  minis- 
ters managed  the  alTairs  of  State  for  her,  in  obedience  to  her 
caprices.  She  seemed  to  have  some  chronic  disease  of  the 
luimane  feelings  which  induced  her  to  declare  that  not  one  of 


378  THE     EMPIRE      OF      11  U  S  S  I  A . 

lier  subjects  should  during  her  reign  be  doomed  to  death, 
while  at  the  same  time,  wil^h  the  most  gentle  self  compla- 
cency, she  could  order  the  tongues  of  thousands  to  be  torn 
out  by  the  roots,  could  cut  off  the  nostrils  with  red  hot  pin- 
cex's,  could  lop  off  ears,  lips  and  noses,  and  could  twist  the 
arms  of  her  victims  behind  them,  by  dislocating  them  at  the 
shoulders.  There  were  tens  of  thousands  of  prisoners  thus 
horridly  mutilated. 

The  empress  was  fond  of  music,  and  introduced  to  Russia 
the  opera  and  the  theater.  She  was  as  intolerent  to  the  Jews 
as  her  fither  had  been,  banishing  them  all  from  the  country. 
She  lived  in  constant  fear  of  conspiracies  and  revolutions,  and, 
as  a  desperate  safeguard,  established  a  secret  inquisitorial 
court  to  punish  all  who  should  express  any  displeasure  with 
the  measures  of  government.  Sjjies  and  informers  of  the 
most  worthless  character  filled  the  land,  and  multitudes  of  the 
most  virtuous  inhabitants  of  the  empire,  falsely  accused,  or 
denounced  for  a  look,  a  shrug,  or  a  harmless  word,  were  con- 
signed to  mutilation  more  dreadful  and  to  exile  more  gloomy 
than  the  grave. 


CHAPTER     XXIII. 

PETER    Til.     AND     HIS    BRIDE, 
From  1728  to  1762. 


LiiTBAeE  OF  Peter  III. — Chosen  by  Eliz.vbkth  as  Hek  Successok. — The  BRroE  Chosen 
FOR  Peter.— Her  Lineage. — The  Courtship. — The  Marriage.— Autohiographt 
OF  Catharine. — Anecdotes  of  Petee. — His  Neglect  of  Catharine  and  His  De- 
baucheries.— Amusements  of  the  Russian  Co"kt. — Military  E.xecution  of  a 
Hat. — Accession  of  Peter  III.  to  the  Throne. — Supremacy  of  Catharine. — 
Her  Eepiuiatiun  Threaten f.d. — Tub  Conspiracy. — Its  Successful  Accomplibh- 


13ETER  the  Third  was  graiulson  of  Peter  the  Great. 
His  niotlier,  Anne,  tlie  eldest  daughter  of  Peter  and 
Catharine,  married  the  Duke  of  llolstein,  who  inherited  a 
duchy  on  the  eastern  sliores  of  the  Baltic  containing  some 
four  thousand  square  miles  of  territory  and  about  three  hun- 
dred thousand  inhabitants.  Their  son  and  only  child,  Peter, 
■was  born  in  the  ducal  castle  at  Kiel,  the  capital  of  the  duchy, 
in  the  year  1728,  The  blood  of  Peter  the  Great  of  Russia, 
and  of  Charles  the  Twelfth  of  Sweden  mingled  in  the  veins 
of  the  young  duke,  of  which  fact  he  was  exceedingly  proud. 
Soon  after  the  birth  of  Peter,  his  mother,  Anne,  died.  Tlie 
father  of  Peter  was  sun  of  the  eldest  sister  of  Charles  XII., 
and,  as  such,  being  the  nearest  heir,  would  probably  have  suc- 
ceeded to  the  throne  of  Sweden  had  not  the  king's  sudden 
death,  by  a  cannon  ball,  prevented  him  from  designating  his 
successor.  The  widowed  fatlier  of  Peter,  thus  disappointed 
in  his  hopes  of  obtaining  the  crown  of  Sweden,  whicli  his 
aunt  Ulrica,  his  mother's  sister,  successfully  grasped,  livc-l  in 
great  retirement.  The  idea  had  not  occurred  to  him  that  the 
crown  of  imperial  Russia  could,  by  any  chance,  descen<l  to  his 


380  THE      EM  PIKE      OF      RUSSIA. 

son,  and  the  education  of  Peter  was  conducted  to  qualify  him 
to  preside  over  his  little  patrimonial  duchy. 

When  young  Peter  was  fourteen  years  of  age,  the  Em- 
press Elizabeth,  his  maternal  aunt,  to  the  surprise  and  delight 
of  tlie  family,  summoned  the  young  prince  to  St.  Petersburg, 
intimating  her  intention  to  transmit  to  hiui  her  crown.  But 
Peter  was  a  thorouglily  worthless  boy.  All  ignoble  qualities 
seemed  to  be  combined  in  his  nature  without  any  redeeming 
virtues.-  Elizabeth  having  thus  provided  twenty  millions  of 
people  with  a  sovereign,  looked  about  to  find  for  that  sover- 
eign a  suitable  wife.  Upon  the  banks  of  the  Oder  there  was 
a  sn\ix\\  2)rincfpalift/,  as  it  was  called,  containiug  some  thirteen 
liundred  square  miles,  about  the  size  of  the  State  of  Riiode 
Islaiul.  Christian  Augustus,  tlie  jtrinee  of  this  little  domain, 
had  a  daughter,  Sophia,  a  child  rather  remarkable  both  for 
beauty  and  vivacity.  She  was  one  year  younger  than  Peter,  and 
Elizabeth  fixed  her  choice  upon  Sophia  as  the  future  spouse 
of  lier  nephew.  Peter  was,  at  this  time,  with  the  empress  in 
Moscow,  and  Sophia  was  sent  for  to  spend  some  time  in  the 
Russian  capital  before  the  marriage,  that  she  might  become 
acqiuiiuted  with  the  Russian  language  and  customs. 

Both  of  these  children  had  been  educated  Protestants,  but 
they  were  required  to  renounce  the  Lutheran  faith  and  accept 
that  of  the  Greek  church.  Children  as  they  were,  they  did 
this,  of  course,  as  readily  as  they  would  have  changed  their 
dresses.  With  this  change  of  religion  Sophia  received  a  new 
name,  that  of  Catharine,  and  by  this  name  she  was  ever  after- 
ward called.  When  these  children,  to  whom  the  government 
of  the  Russian  empire  was  to  be  intrusted,  first  met,  Peter 
was  fifteen  years  of  age  and  Catharine  fourteen.  Catliarine 
subsequently  commenced  a  minute  journal,  an  autobiography 
of  tliese  her  youthful  days,  wliich  opens  vividly  to  our  view 
the  corruptions  of  the  Russian  court.  Nothing  can  be  more 
wearisome  than  the  life  there  developed.  No  thought  what- 
ever seemed  to  be  directed  by  the  court  to   the  interests  of 


PKTEK     III.      AND      HIS     BRIDE.  381 

the  Russian  people.  They  were  no  more  thought  of  than  the 
jaded  horses  who  dragged  the  chariots  of  the  nobles.  It  is 
amazing  that  the  indignation  of  the  millions  can  have  slum- 
bered so  long. 

Catharine,  in  her  memoirs,  naively  describes  young  Peter, 
when  she  tirst  saw  him,  as  "  weak,  ugly,  little  and  sickly." 
From  the  age  of  ten  he  had  been  addicted  to  intoxicating 
drinks.  It  was  the  9th  of  February,  1744,  when  Catharine 
Avas  taken  to  Moscow.  Peter,  or,  as  he  was  then  called,  the 
grand  duke,  was  quite  delighted  to  see  the  pretty  girl  wlio 
was  his  destined  wife,  and  began  immediately  to  entertain 
Catharine,  as  she  says,  "  by  informing  me  that  he  was  in  love 
with  one  of  the  maids  of  honor  to  the  empress,  and  that  he 
would  have  been  very  glad  to  have  married  her,  but  that  he 
was  resigned  to  marry  me  instead,  as  his  aunt  wished  it." 

The  grand  duke  had  the  faculty  of  making  himself  exces- 
sively disagreeable  to  every  one  around  him,  and  the  affianced 
haters  were  in  a  constant  quarrel,  Peter  could  develop  notli- 
ing  but  stupid  malignity.  Catharine  could  wield  the  weapons 
of  keen  and  cutting  sarcasm,  which  Peter  felt  as  the  mule 
feels  the  lash.  Catliarine's  mother  had  accompanied  her  to 
Moscow,  but  the  bridal  wardrobe,  ibr  a  princess,  was  ex- 
tremely limited. 

"  I  had  arrived,"  she  writes,  "  in  Russia  very  badly  pro- 
vided for.  If  I  had  three  or  four  dresses  in  the  world,  it  was 
tlie  very  outside,  and  tliis  at  a  court  where  p'eo[)le  changed 
their  dress  three  times  a  day.  A  dozen  chemises  constituted 
the  whole  of  my  linen,  and  I  had  to  use  my  mother's  sheets." 

Soon  after  Catharine's  ai-rival,  the  grand  duke  was  taken 
with  the  small-pox,  and  his  natural  ugliness  was  rendered  still 
more  revolting  by  the  distigurement  it  caused.  On  the  10th 
of  February,  1745,  when  Cathai'ine  had  been  one  year  at  jMos- 
cow,  the  grand  duke  celebrated  his  seventeenth  birthday.  In 
her  journal  Catliarine  writes  that  Peter  seldom  saw  her,  and 
was  always  glad  of  any  excuse  by  which  he  could  avoid  pay- 


382  THE     K  M  P  I  K  E      OF     K  U  S  S  I  A  . 

ing  her  any  attention.  Though  Catharine  cared  as  little  for 
him,  still,  with  girlish  ambition,  she  was  eager  to  marry  him, 
as  she  very  frankly  records,  in  consideration  of  the  crown 
which  he  would  place  upon  her  brow,  and  her  womanly 
nature  was  stung  by  his  neglect. 

"  I  fully  perceived,"  she  writes,  "  his  want  of  interest,  and 
how  little  I  was  cared  for.  My  self  esteem  and  vanity  gi-ieved 
in  silence ;  but  I  was  too  proud  to  complain.  I  should  have 
thought  myself  degraded  had  any  one  shown  me  a  friendship 
which  I  could  have  taken  for  pity.  Nevertheless  I  shed  tears 
when  alone,  then  quietly  dried  them  up,  and  went  to  romp 
with  my  maids. 

"  I  labored,  however,"  writes  Catharine,  "  to  gain  the 
affection  of  every  one.  Great  or  small  I  neglected  no  one,  but 
laid  it  down  to  myself  as  a  rule  to  believe  that  I  stood  in  need 
of  every  one,  and  so  to  act,  in  consequence,  as  to  obtain  the 
good  will  of  all,  and  I  succeeded  in  doing  so." 

The  21st  of  August  of  this  year  was  fixed  for  the  nuptial 
day.  Catharine  looked  forward  to  it  with  extreme  repug- 
nance. Peter  was  revolting  in  his  aspect,  disgusting  in  man- 
ners, a  drunkard,  and  licentious  to  such  a  degree  that  he  took 
no  pains  to  conceal  his  amours.  But  the  crown  of  Russia  was 
in  the  eyes  of  Catharine  so  glittering  a  prize,  though  then  she 
had  not  entered  her  sixteenth  year,  that  she  was  willing  to 
j)urchase  it  even  at  the  price  of  marrying  Peter,  the  only  price 
at  which  it  could  be  obtained.  She  was  fully  persuaded  that 
Peter,  with  a  feeble  constitution  and  wallowing  in  debauchery, 
could  not  live  long,  and  that,  at  his  death,  she  would  be  un- 
disputed empress. 

"  As  the  day  of  our  nuptials  approached,"  she  writes,  "  I 
became  more  and  more  melancholy.  My  heart  predicted  but 
little  happiness ;  ambition  alone  sustained  me.  In  ray  inmost 
soul  there  was  something  which  led  me  never  to  doubt,  for  a 
single  moment,  that  sooner  or  later  I  should  become  sovereign 
empress  of  Russia  in  my  own  right." 


PETEK     III.      AND      HIS     B  II  IDE.  383 

The  marriage  was  celebrateil  with  mucli  pomp ;  but  a 
more  cold  and  iieartless  union  was  perhaps  never  solemnized. 
Catharine  very  distinctly  intimates  that  her  husband,  who  was 
as  low  in  liis  tastes  and  companionship  as  he  was  degraded  in 
his  vices,  lelt  lier  at  the  altar,  to  return  to  his  more  congenial 
liareni. 

"  My  beloved  spouse,"  she  writes,  "  did  not  trouble  him- 
self in  the  slightest  degree  about  me  ;  but  was  constantly  with 
his  valets,  playing  at  soldiers,  exercising  them  in  his  room,  or 
changing  his  uniform  twenty  times  a  day.  I  yawned  and 
grew  weary,  liaving  no  one  to  speak  to." 

Again  she  WM'ites,  "  A  fortnight  after  our  marriage  he  con- 
fessed to  me  that  he  Avas  in  love  with  Mademoiselle  Carr, 
maid  of  honor  to  her  imperial  majesty.  He  said  that  there 
was  no  comparison  between  that  lady  and  me.  Surely,  said  I 
to  myself,  it  would  be  impossible  for  me  not  to  be  wretched 
wilh  such  a  man  as  this  were  I  to  give  way  to  sentiments  of 
tenderness  thus  requited.  I  might  die  of  jealousy  without 
benefit  to  any  one.  I  endeavored  to  master  my  feelings  so 
as  not  to  be  jealous  of  the  man  who  did  not  love  me.  I  was 
naturally  well-disposed,  but  I  should  have  required  a  husband 
who  had  common  sense,  which  this  one  had  not." 

For  anmsement,  the  grand  duke  played  cruelly  with  dogs 
ill  his  room,  pretending  to  train  them,  whipping  them  lioin 
corner  to  corner.  When  tired  of  this  ho  would  scrape  exe- 
crably on  a  violin.  He  Jiad  many  little  puppet  soldiers,  whom, 
hour  after  hour,  he  would  marshal  on  the  floor  in  mimic  war. 
He  would  dres.s  his  own  servants  and  the  maids  of  Catharine 
in  masks,  and  set  them  dancing,  while  he  would  dance  with 
tiiem,  playing  at  tlie  same  time  on  the  liddle. 

"With  rare  perseverance,"  writes  Catharine,  "  the  grand 
duke  trained  a  pack  of  dogs,  and  "vrith  heavy  blows  of  his  \\hip, 
and  cries  like  those  of  the  huntsmen,  made  them  fly  from  one 
end  to  the  other  of  his  two  rooms,  which  were  all  he  had. 
Such  of  the  dogs  as  became  tired,  or  got  out  of  rank,  wore 


384  THE     E  M  P  I  R  K      OF      RUSSIA. 

severely  pnuislied,  wliich  made  them  howl  still  more.  On  one 
occasion,  hearing  one  of  tliese  animals  howl  piteously  and  for 
a  long-  time,  I  opened  the  door  of  my  bed-room,  where  I  was 
seated,  and  which  adjoined  the  apartment  in  which  this  scene 
was  enacted,  and  saw  him  holding  this  dog  by  the  collar,  sus- 
pended in  the  air,  while  a  boy,  who  was  in  his  service,  a  Kal- 
muck by  birth,  held  the  animal  by  the  tail.  It  was  a  poor 
little  King  Charles  spaniel,  and  the  duke  was  beating  liim  with 
all  his  might  with  the  heavy  handle  of  a  whip.  I  interceded 
for  the  2)oor  beast ;  but  this  only  made  him  redouble  his  blows. 
Unable  to  bear  so  cruel  a  scene,  I  returned  to  my  room  with 
tears  in  my  eyes.  In  general,  tears  and  cries,  instead  of  mov- 
ing the  duke  to  pity,  put  him  in  a  passion.  Pity  was  a  feeling 
that  was  painful  and  even  insupportable  in  his  mind." 

At  one  time  there  was  a  little  hunchback  girl  in  the  court, 
upon  whom  the  duke  fixed  his  vagrant  desires,  and  she  be- 
came his  unconcealed  favorite.  The  duke  was  ever  in  the 
habit  of  talking  freely  with  Cathai-ine  about  his  paramours 
and  2:)raising  their  excellent  qualities. 

"Madame  Vladisma  said  to  me,"  w'rites  Catharine,  "that 
every  one  was  disgusted  to  see  this  little  hunchback  preferred 
to  me.  'It  can  not  be  helped,'  I  said,  as  the  tears  started  to 
my  eyes.  I  went  to  bed  ;  scarcely  was  I  asleep,  when  the 
grand  duke  also  came  to  bed.  As  he  was  tipsy  and  knew  not 
what  he  was  doing,  he  spoke  to  me  for  the  purpose  of  expati- 
ating on  the  eminent  qualities  of  his  favorite.  To  clieck  liis 
garrulity  I  pretended  to  be  fast  asleep.  He  spoke  still  louder 
in  order  to  wake  me;  but  finding  that  I  slept,  he  gave  me 
two  or  three  rather  hard  blows  in  the  side  with  his  fist,  and 
dropped  asleep  himself.  I  wept  long  and  bitterly  that  night, 
as  well  on  account  of  the  matter  itself  and  the  blows  he  had 
given  me,  as  on  that  of  my  general  situation,  which  was,  in 
all  respects,  as  disagreeable  as  it  was  wearisome." 

One  of  the  ridiculous  and  disgraceful  amusements  of  the 
vulgar  men  and   women  collected  in  the  court  of  Elizabeth, 


PETER      III.      AND      HIS     BRIDE.  385 

was  what  was  called  masquerade  balls,  in  which  all  the  men 
were  required  to  dress  as  women,  and  all  the  women  as  men, 
and  yet  no  masks  were  worn. 

"  The  men,"  Catharine  writes,  "  wore  large  whaleboned 
petticoats,  with  women's  gowns,  and  the  head-dresses  worn  on 
court  days,  while  the  women  appeared  in  the  court  costume 
of  men.  The  men  did  not  like  these  reversals  of  their  sex, 
and  the  greater  part  of  them  were  in  the  worst  possible 
humor  on  these  occasions,  because  they  felt  themselves  to  be 
hideous  in  such  disguises.  The  women  looked  like  scrubby 
little  boys,  while  the  more  aged  among  them  had  thick  short 
legs  which  were  any  thing  but  ornamental.  The  only  woman 
wlio  looked  really  well,  and  completely  a  man,  was  the  em- 
press herself  As  she  was  very  tall  and  somewhat  powerful, 
male  attire  suited  her  wonderfully  well.  She  had  the  hand- 
somest leg  I  have  ever  seen  with  any  man,  and  her  foot  was 
admirably  proportioned.  She  danced  to  perfection,  and  ev- 
ery thing  she  did  had  a  special  grace,  equally  so  whether  she 
dressed  as  a  man  or  a  woman." 

Enervating  and  degrading  pleasure  and  ambitious  or  re- 
vengeful wars,  engrossed  the  whole  attention  of  the  Russian 
court  daring  the  reign  of  Ehzabeth.  The  welfare  of  the 
people  was  not  even  thought  of  The  following  anecdote, 
illustrative  of  the  character  of  Peter  III.,  is  worthy  of  record 
in  the  woi'ds  of  Catharine : 

"  One  day,  when  I  went  into  the  apartments  of  his  im- 
perial highness,  I  beheld  a  great  rat  which  he  had  hung,  with 
all  the  paraphernalia  of  an  execution.  I  asked  what  all  this 
meant.  He  told  me  that  this  rat  had  committed  a  great 
crime,  which,  according  to  the  laws  of  war,  deserved  capital 
])unishnient.  It  had  climbed  the  ramparts  of  a  fortress  of 
card-board,  whicli  he  had  on  a  table  in  his  cabinet,  and  had 
eaten  two  sentinels,  made  of  pith,  who  were  on  duty  in  the 
bastions.  His  setter  had  caught  the  criminal,  he  had  been 
tried   by  martial  law   and   immediately  hung  ;  and,  ns  I  saw, 

IV 


086  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

was  to  remain  three  days  exposed  as  a  public  example.  In 
justification  of  the  rat,"  continues  Catharine,  "it  may  at  least 
be  said,  that  he  was  hung  without  having  been  questioned  or 
heard  in  his  own  defense." 

It  is  not  surprising  that  a  woman,  young,  beautiful  and 
vivacious,  living  in  a  court  where  corruption  was  all  around 
her,  whei'e  an  unmarried  empress  was  rendering  herself  no- 
torious by  her  gallantries,  stung  to  the  quick  by  the  utter 
neglect  of  her  liusband,  insulted  by  the  presence  of  his  mis- 
tresses, and  disgusted  by  his  unmitigated  boobyisra,  should 
have  sought  solace  in  the  friendship  of  others.  And  it  is  not 
strange  that  such  friendships  should  have  ripened  into  love, 
and  that  one  thus  tempted  should  have  fallen.  Catharine  in 
her  memoirs  does  not  deny  her  Jall,  though  she  can  not  refrain 
from  allowing  an  occasional  word  to  di-op  from  her  pen,  evi- 
dently intended  in  extenuation.  Much  which  is  called  virtue 
consists  in  the  absence  of  temptation. 

Catharine's  first  son,  Paul,  was  born  on  the  20th  of  Sep- 
tember, 1753.  He  was  unquestionably  the  son  of  Count 
Sottikoif,  a  nobleman  alike  distinguished  for  the  graces  of 
his  person  and  of  his  mind.  Through  a  thousand  perils  and 
cunning  intrigues,  Catharine  and  the  count  prosecuted  their 
amour.  Woe  was,  as  usual,  to  both  of  them  tlie  result.  Tlie 
empress  gives  a  very  touching  account  of  her  sufferings, 
in  both  body  and  mind,  on  the  occasion  of  the  birth  of  her 
child. 

"As  for  me,"  she  writes,  "I  did  nothing  but  weep  and 
moan  in  my  bed.  I  neither  could  or  would  see  anybody,  I 
felt  so  miserable.  I  buried  myself  in  my  bed,  where  I  did 
nothing  but  grieve.  When  the  forty  days  of  my  confinement 
were  over,  the  empress  came  a  second  time  into  my  chamber. 
My  child  was  brought  into  my  room  ;  it  was  the  first  time  I 
had  seen  him  since  his  birth." 

One  day  Peter  brought  into  his  wife's  room,  for  her 
amusement,  a  letter  which  he  had  just  received  from  one  of 


P  E  T  E  re      in.      AMI)      II  I  S      BRIDE.  387 

his  mistresses,  Madame  Teploif.    Sliowing  the  letter  to  Callia- 
rine,  he  said, 

"  Only  tliiidc  !  she  writes  me  a  letter  of  four  whole  pages, 
and  expects  that  I  should  read  it,  and,  what  is  more,  answer 
it  also  ;  I,  wlio  have  to  go  to  parade,  then  dine,  then  attend 
the  rehearsal  of  an  opera,  and  the  ballet  which  tlie  cadets  will 
dance  at.  I  will  tell  her  j^hiinly  that  I  have  not  time,  and,  if 
she  is  vexed,  I  will  quarrel  with  lier  till  next  winter." 

"That  will  certainly  be  the  shortest  way,"  Catharine 
coolly  replied.  "  These  traits,"  she  very  truly  adds  in  her 
narrative,  "  are  characteristic,  and  they  will  not  therefore  be 
out  of  i^lace," 

Such  was  tlie  man  and  such  the  woman  wno  succeeded  to 
the  throne  of  Russia  upon  the  death  of  the  Empress  Eliza- 
beth. She  had  hardly  emitted  her  last  breath,  ere  the  cour- 
tiers, impatiently  awaiting  the  event,  rushed  to  the  apartments 
of  the  grand  duke  to  congi-atulate  him  upon  his  accession  to 
the  crown.  He  immediately  mounted  on  horseback  and 
traversed  the  streets  of  St.  Petersburg,  scattering  money 
among  the  crowd.  The  soldiers  gathered  around  him  ex- 
claiming, "  Take  care  of  us  and  we  will  take  care  of  you." 
Though  the  grand  duke  had  been  very  unpopular  there  was 
no  outburst  of  opposition.  The  only  claim  Peter  HI.  had  to 
the  confidence  of  the  nation  was  the  fact  that  he  was  grand- 
son of  Peter  the  Great.  Conspiracies  were,  however,  imme- 
diately set  on  loot  to  eject  him  from  the  throne  and  give 
Catharine  his  se.at.  Catharine  had  a  high  rejnitatiun  for  talent, 
and  being  very  affectionate  in  her  disposition  and  cordial  in 
her  manners,  had  troops  of  friends.  Indeed,  it  is  not  strange 
that  public  sentiment  should  not  only  have  extenuated  her 
faults,  but  should  almost  have  applauded  them.  Forgetting 
the  commandments  of  God,  and  only  remembering  that  her 
brutal  husbanil  liclily  merited  retaliation,  the  public  almost 
applauded  the  spirit  with  which  she  conducted  her  intrigues. 
The  same  sentiment   i)ei'vaded  England  when   the  miserable 


388  THE      KM  FIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

George  IV.  goaded  his  wife  to  frenzy,  and  led  lier,  in  uncon- 
trollable exasperation,  to  pay  him  back  in  his  own  coin. 

Fortunately  for  the  imbecile  Petei-,  he  had  enough  sense 
to  appreciate  the  abilities  of  Catharine;  and  a  sort  of  maud- 
lin idea  of  justice,  if  it  were  not,  perhaps,  utter  stupidity, 
dissuaded  him  from  resenting  her  freedom  in  the  choice  of 
favorites.  Upon  commencing  his  reign,  he  yielded  himself 
to  the  guidance  of  her  imperial  mind,  hoping  to  obtain  some 
dignity  by  the  renown  which  her  measures  might  reflect  upon 
him.  Catharine  advised  him  very  wisely.  She  caused  seven- 
teen thousand  exiles  to  be  recalled  from  Siberia,  and  abolished 
the  odious  secret  court  of  chancery — that  court  of  political 
inquisition  whicli,  I'or  years,  had  kept  all  Russia  trembhng. 

For  a  time,  Russia  resounded  with  the  2>'"fiis^-'s  of  the  new 
sovereign,  and  when  Peter  III.  entered  the  senate  and  read 
an  act  permitting  the  nobility  to  bear  arms,  or  not,  at  their 
own  discretion,  and  to  visit  foreign  countries  whenever  they 
pleased,  a  privilege  which  they  had  not  enjoyed  before,  the 
gratitude  of  the  nobles  was  unbounded.  It  should,  how- 
ever, be  recorded  that  this  edict  proved  to  be  but  a  dead 
letter.  It  was  expected  that  the  nobles,  as  a  matter  of 
courtesy,  should  always  ask  permission  to  leave,  and  this 
request  was  frequently  not  granted.  The  secret  tribunal,  to 
^vhich  we  have  referred,  exposed  persons  of  all  ranks  and  both 
sexes  to  be  arrested  upon  the  slightest  suspicion.  The  ac- 
cused was  exposed  to  the  most  horrible  tortures  to  compel  a 
confession.  When  every  bone  was  broken  and  every  joint 
dislocated,  and  his  body  was  mangled  by  the  crushing  wheel, 
if  he  still  had  endurance  to  persist  in  his  denial,  the  accuser 
was,  in  his  turn,  ])lace(l  upon  the  wheel,  and  every  nerve  of 
agony  was  tortui-ed  to  force  a  recantation  of  the  charge. 

Though  Peter  III.  promulgated  the  wise  edicts  which 
were  placed  in  his  hands,  he  had  become  so  thoi'oughly  im- 
bruted  by  his  dissolute  life  that  he  made  no  attempt  to  tear 
himself  away  from  his  mistresses  and  his  drunken  orgies. 


PETER     III.      AND      HIS      BRIDE.  389 

Peter  III.  was  quite  infatuated  in  his  adtnivation  of  Fred- 
eric of  Prussia.  One  of  his  first  acts  upon  attaining  the  reins 
of  government  was  to  dispatch  an  order  forbidding  tlie  Rus- 
sian armies  any  longer  to  cooperate  witli  Austria  against 
Prussia.  This  command  was  speedily  followed  by  another, 
directing  the  Russian  generals  to  hold  themselves  and  their 
troops  obedient  to  the  instructions  of  Frederic,  and  to  coop- 
erate in  every  way  with  him  to  repel  their  former  allies,  the 
Austrians.  It  was  the  caprice  of  a  drunken  semi-idiot  which 
thus  rescued  Frederic  the  Great  from  disgrace  and  utter  ruin. 
The  Emperor  of  Prussia  had  sufficient  sagacity  to  foresee  that 
Peter  III.  would  not  long  maintain  his  seat  upon  the  throne. 
lie  accordingly  directed  his  minister  at  St.  Petersburg,  while 
continuing  to  live  in  great  intimacy  with  the  tzar,  to  pay  the 
most  deferential  attention  to  the  empress. 

Tiiere  was  no  end  to  the  caprices  of  Peter  the  drunkard. 
At  one  time  lie  would  leave  the  whole  administration  of  affiiirs 
in  the  hands  of  Cathaiine,  and  again  he  would  treat  her  in  the 
most  contemptuous  and  insulting  manner.  In  one  of  the  pomp- 
ous ceremonials  of  the  court,  when  the  empress,  adorned  with 
all  the  marks  of  imperial  dignity,  shared  the  throne  with  Pe- 
ter, the  tzar  called  one  of  his  mistresses  to  the  conspicuous  seat 
he  occupied  with  the  empress,  and  made  her  sit  down  by  his 
side.  Catharine  immediately  rose  and  retired.  At  a  public 
festival  that  same  evening,  Peter,  half  drunk,  publicly  and 
hnuUy  launched  at  her  an  epithet  the  grossest  which  could  be 
addressed  to  a  woman.  Catharine  was  so  sliocked  that  she 
burst  into  tears.  The  sympathy  of  the  spectators  was  deeply 
excited  in  her  behalf,  and  their  indignation  roused  against  the 
tzar. 

While  Peter  III.  was  developing  his  true  character  of 
brute  and  buifoon,  gathering  around  him  the  lowest  profli- 
gates, and  reveling  in  the  most  di.'basing  and  vulgar  vices, 
Catharine,  though  guilty  and  unliappy,  was  holding  her  court 
with  dignity  and  alfability,  wliich  charmed  all  who  approached 


390  THE      EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

her.  She  paid  profound  respect  to  the  external  observances 
of  religion,  daily  performing  her  devotions  in  the  churches, 
accosting  the  poor  with  benignity,  treating  the  clergy  with 
marked  respect,  and  winning  all  hearts  by  her  kindness  and 
sympathy. 

One  of  the  mistresses  of  Peter  III,,  the  Countess  Yoront- 
zof,  had  gained  such  a  boundless  influence  over  her  paramour, 
that  she  had  extorted  from  him  the  promise  that  he  would 
repudiate  Catharine,  marry  her,  and  crown  her  as  empress. 
Elated  by  this  promise,  she  had  the  imprudence  to  boast  of  it. 
Her  father  and  several  of  tlje  courtiers  whose  fortunes  her 
favor  would  secui-e,  were  busy  in  paving  her  way  to  the 
throne.  The  numerous  friends  of  Catharine  were  excited,  and 
were  equally  active  in  thwarting  tlie  plans  of  the  tzar.  Peter 
took  no  pains  to  conceal  his  intentions,  and  gloried  in  pro- 
claiming the  illegitimacy  of  Paul,  the  son  of  the  empress. 
Loathsome  as  his  own  life  was,  he  seemed  to  think  that  liis 
denunciations  of  Catharine,  whose  purity  lie  had  insulted  and 
whose  heart  he  had  crushed,  would  secure  for  him  the  moral 
suppoi't  of  his  subjects  and  of  Europe.  But  he  was  mistaken. 
Tile  sinning  Cathaiine  was  an  angel  of  purity  compared  with 
the  beastly  Peter. 

It  was  necessary  for  Peter  to  move  with  caution,  for  Cath- 
arine liad  ability,  energy,  innumerable  friends,  and  was  one  of 
the  last  women  in  the  world  quietly  to  submit  to  be  plunged 
into  a  dungeon,  and  tlien  to  be  led  to  the  scaifold,  and  by  such 
a  man  as  lier  despicable  spouse.  Peter  III.  was  by  no  means 
a  match  ibr  Cathai'ine.  About  twelve  miles  from  St.  Peters- 
burg, on  the  southern  shore  of  the  Bay  of  Cronstadt,  and 
nearly  op])Osite  the  renowned  fortresses  of  Cronstadt  which 
command  the  approaches  to  St.  Petersburg,  was  the  imperial 
summer  ])alace  of  Peterliof,  which  for  some  time  liad  been  the 
favoi'ite  ix'sidence  of  Catharine.  A  few  miles  fuither  down 
the  b.iy,  which  runs  east  and  west,  was  the  palace  of  Oranien- 
baum,  in  tlie  decoiation  of  which  many  succeeding  monarchs 


PETER      III.      AND      HIS      BUTDE,  391 

I;ad  lavished  large  sums.  This  was  Peter's  favorite  resort, 
and  its  lialls  ever  echoed  witli  the  carousings  of  the  i)i-iiice  and 
his  boon  companions.  Eveiy  year,  on  the  8th  of  July,  there 
is  a  grand  festival  at  Peterhof  in  honor  of  Peter  and  Paul, 
the  patron  saints  of  the  imperial  house.  This  was  the  time 
fixed  u[)on  by  Catharine  and  her  friends  for  the  accomplisli- 
ment  of  their  i)lans.  The  tzar,  on  tlie  evening  of  the  8th  of 
July,  was  at  Oianienbaum,  surrounded  by  a  bevy  of  the  most 
beautiful  females  of  his  court.  Catharine  was  at  Peterhof.  It 
was  a  warm  summer's  night,  and  the  queen  lodged  in  a  small 
cottage  ortte  called  Montplaisir,  which  was  situated  in  the  gar- 
den. They  had  not  intended  to  carry  their  plot  into  execu- 
tion that  night,  but  an  alarm  precipitated  their  action.  At 
two  o'clock  in  the  morning  Catharine  was  awoke  from  a  sound 
sleep,  by  some  one  of  her  friends  entering  her  room,  exclaim- 

i"g, 

"  Your  majesty  has  not  a  moment  to  lose.  Rise  and  fol- 
low me !'' 

Catharine,  alarmed,  called  her  conlidential  attendant, 
dressed  hurriedly  in  disguise,  and  entered  a  carriiige  which 
was  waiting  for  her  at  the  garden  gate.  The  horses  were 
goaded  to  their  utmost  speed  on  the  road  to  St.  Petersburg, 
and  so  inconsiderately  that  soon  one  of  them  fell  in  utter  ex- 
haustion. They  were  still  at  some  distance  from  the  city,  and 
the  energetic  empress  alighted  and  pressed  forward  on  foot. 
Sorin  they  chanced  to  meet  a  peasant,  driving  a  light  cart. 
Count  OiloiF,  who  was  a  reputed  lover  of  Catharine,  and  was 
guiding  in  this  movement,  seized  the  horse,  placed  the  em- 
press in  the  cart,  and  drove  on.  These  delays  had  ()ccui)ied 
so  much  time  that  it  was  seven  o'clock  in  the  morning  before 
they  reached  St.  Petersburg.  The  empi-ess,  with  her  comj)an- 
ions,  immediately  proceeded  to  the  barracks,  where  most  of 
the  soldiers  were  quartered,  and  whose;  oHuhms  had  In-en 
gained  over,  and  threw  herself  upon  their  protc.'ction. 

"  Danger,"  she  said  to  the  soldiers,  "  lias  compelled  me  to 


392  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

fly  to  you  for  heli^.  The  tzar  had  intended  to  put  me  to  death, 
together  with  my  son.  I  had  no  other  means  of  escaping 
death  than  by  flight.     I  throw  myself  into  your  arms!" 

Such  an  appeal  from  a  woman,  beautiful,  beloved  and  im- 
ploring protection  from  the  murderous  hands  of  one  who  was 
hated  and  despised,  insj^ired  every  bosom  with  indignation 
and  with  enthusiasm  in  her  behalf  With  one  impulse  they 
took  an  oath  to  die,  if  necessary,  in  her  defense ;  and  cries  of 
"  Long  live  the  emjjress"  fllled  the  air.  In  two  hours  Cath- 
arine found  herself  at  the  head  of  several  thousand  veteran 
soldiers.  She  was  also  in  possession  of  the  arsenals;  and  the 
great  mass  of  the  population  of  St.  Petersburg  were  clamor- 
ously advocating  her  cause. 

Accompanied  by  a  numerous  and  brilliant  suite,  the  em- 
press then  repaired  to  the  metropolitan  church,  Avhere  the 
archbishop  and  a  great  number  of  ecclesiastics,  whose  co- 
operation had  been  secured,  received  her,  and  the  venerable 
archbishop,  a  man  of  imposing  character  and  appearance, 
dressed  in  his  sacerdotal  robes,  led  her  to  the  altar,  and 
placing  the  imperial  crown  upon  her  head,  proclaimed  her 
sovereign  of  all  the  Russias,  with  the  title  of  Catharine  the 
Second.  A  Tc  Deum  was  then  chanted,  and  the  shouts  of 
the  multiLude  proclaimed  the  cordiality  with  which  the  popu- 
lace accepted  the  revolution.  The  empress  then  repaired  to 
the  imperial  palace,  which  was  thrown  open  to  all  the  people, 
and  which,  for  hours,  was  thronged  with  the  masses,  who  fell 
upon  their  knees  betbre  her,  taking  their  oath  of  allegiance. 

The  friends  of  Catharine  were,  in  the  meantime,  every- 
where busy  in  putting  the  city  in  a  state  of  defense,  and  in 
posting  cannon  to  sweep  the  streets  should  Peter  attempt  re- 
sistance. The  tzar  seemed  to  be  left  without  a  friend.  No 
<me  even  took  the  trouble  to  inform  him  of  what  was  trans- 
})iring.  Troops  in  the  vicinity  were  marched  into  the  city, 
and  before  the  end  of  the  day,  Catharine  found  herself  at  the 
head  of  fifteen  thousand  men ;  the  most  formidable  defenses 


PETER      III.      AND      UIS      BRIDE,  393 

wei'e  arranged,  strict  order  prevailed,  and  not  a  drop  of  blood 
had  been  shed.  The  manifesto  of  the  empress,  whieh  had 
been  secretly  printed,  was  distributed  throughout  the  city, 
and  a  day  appointed  when  the  foreign  embassadors  would  be 
received  by  Catharine.  The  revolution  seemed  already  ac- 
complished without  a  struggle  and  almost  without  an  effort. 

IV* 


CHAPTER    XXIV. 

THE   CONSPIRA.CT;    AND   ACCESSION   OP   CATHARINE  IL 

ErO-M  1762  TO  1765. 

Peter  III.  at  Oranienbaum. — CATnARixB  at  Peteriiof. — The  SuccESSFrL  Accom- 
plishment OF  THE  Conspiracy. — Terror  of  Petek. — His  Vacillating  and  Feeble 
Character. — Flioht  to  Cronstadt. — IIepulse. — Heroic  Counsel  of  Munich. — 
Peter's  Eetitrn  to  OKANiENBAria.-^His  Suppliant  Letters  to  Catharine. — ■ 
His  Arrest. — Imprisonment. — Assassination. — Proclamation  op  tub  E.mpress. 
Her  Complicity  in  the  Cri.me. — Enercy  op  Catharine's  Administration. — Hek 
Expansive  Views  and  Sagacious  Policy. — Contemplated  Marriage  with  Count 
Orlof. 

IT  was  the  morning  of  the  19th  of  July,  1762.  Peter,  at 
Oranienbaum,  liad  passed  most  of  the  night,  with  his  boon 
companions  and  liis  concubines,  in  intemperate  carousings. 
He  awoke  at  a  late  hour  in  the  morning,  and  after  breakfiist 
set  out  in  a  carriage,  with  several  of  his  women,  accompanied 
by  a  troop  of  courtiers  in  other  carriages,  for  Peterhof.  The 
gay  party  were  riding  at  a  rapid  rate  over  the  beautiful  shore 
road,  looking  out  upon  the  Bay  of  Cronstadt,  when  they 
were  met  by  a  messenger  from  Peterhof,  sent  to  inform  them 
that  the  empress  had  suddenly  disappeared  during  the  night. 
Peter,  upon  receiving  this  surprising  intelligence,  turned  pale 
as  ashes,  and  alighting,  conversed  for  some  time  anxiously  with 
the  messenger.  Entering  his  carriage  again,  he  drove  with 
the  utmost  speed  to  Peterhof,  and  with  characteristic  silliness 
began  to  search  the  cupboards,  closets,  and  under  the  bed  for 
the  empress.  Those  of  greater  penetration  foresaw  what  had. 
happened,  but  were  silent,  that  they  might  not  add  to  his 
alarm. 

In  the  meantime  some  peasants,  who  had  come  from  St. 


ACCESSION      OF      CATHARINE     IT.  395 

Petersburg,  related  to  a  group  of  servants  rumors  tliey  liad 
heard  of  the  insurrection  in  that  city.  A  fearful  gloom  op- 
pressed all,  and  Peter  was  in  such  a  state  of  terror  that  he 
feared  to  ask  any  questions.  As  they  were  standing  thus  mute 
with  confusion  and  disuiay,  a  countryman  rode  up,  and  making 
a  profound  bow  to  the  tzar,  presented  him  with  a  note.  Peter 
ran  his  eyes  hastily  over  it,  and  then  read  it  aloud.  It  com- 
municated the  appalling  intelligence  which  we  have  just  re- 
corded. 

The  consternation  into  which  the  whole  imperial  party  was 
thrown  no  language  can  describe.  The  women  were  in  tears. 
The  courtiers  could  offer  not  a  word  of  encouragement  or 
counsel.  One,  the  king's  chancellor,  with  the  tzar's  consent, 
set  off  for  St.  Petersburg  to  attempt  to  rouse  the  partisans  of 
the  tzar ;  but  he  could  find  none  there.  The  wretched  Pe- 
ter was  now  continually  receiving  corroborative  intelligence 
of  the  insurrection,  and  he  strode  up  and  down  the  walks 
of  the  garden,  forming  innumerable  plans  and  adhering  to 
none. 

The  tzar  had  a  guard  of  three  thousand  troops  at  his  pal- 
ace of  Oranienbaum.  At  noon  these  approached  Pcterhof  led 
by  their  veteran  commander,  Munich.  This  energetic  officei- 
urged  an  immediate  march  upon  St.  Petersburg. 

"Believe  me,"  said  Munich,  "you  have  many  friends  in 
the  city.  The  royal  guard  will  rally  around  your  standard 
when  they  see  it  approaching ;  and  if  we  are  foi-ced  to  tight, 
the  rebels  will  make  but  a  short  resistance." 

While  lie  was  urging  tliis  energetic  measure,  and  the 
women  and  the  courtiers  were  trying  to  dissuade  him  from 
the  step,  and  were  entreating  liim  to  go  back  to  Oranienbaum, 
news  arrived  that  the  troops  of  the  empi'ess,  twenty  thousand 
in  number,  were  on  the  march  to  arrest  him. 

"Well,"  said  Munich  to  tlie  tzar,  "if  you  wisli  to  decline 
a  battle,  it  is  not  wise  at  any  rate  to  remain  here,  where  you 
have  no  means  of  defense.     Neithei-  Oranienbaum  nor  Peter- 


396  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

hof  cau  withstand  a  siege.  But  Cronstadt  ofters  you  a  safe 
retreat.  Cronstadt  is  still  under  your  command.  You  have 
there  a  formidable  fleet  and  a  numerous  garrison.  From 
Cronstadt  you  will  find  it  easy  to  bring  Petersburg  back  to 
duty," 

The  fortresses  of  Cronstadt  are  situated  on  an  island  of  the 
same  name,  at  the  mouth  of  a  bay  wliich  presents  the  only 
approach  to  St.  Petersburg.  This  fortress,  distant  about  thirty 
miles  west  of  St.  Petersburg,  may  be  said  to  be  impregnable. 
In  the  late  war  with  Russia  it  bade  detiance  to  the  combined 
fleets  of  France  and  England.  As  we  have  before  mentioned, 
Peterhof  and  Oranienbaum  were  pleasure-palaces,  situated  on 
the  eastern  shore  of  the  Bay  of  Cronstadt,  but  a  few  miles 
from  the  foitress  and  but  a  few  miles  from  each  other.  The 
gardens  of  these  palaces  extend  to  the  waters  of  the  bay,  where 
there  are  evei"  liding  at  anchor  a  fleet  of  pleasure-boats  and 
royal  yachts. 

The  advice  of  Munich  was  instantly  adopted.  A  boat  was 
sent  oft"  conveying  an  oflicer  to  take  command  of  the  fortress, 
while,  in  the  meantime,  two  yachts  were  got  ready  for  the 
departure  of  the  tzar  and  his  party.  Peter  and  his  aftrighted 
court  hastened  on  board,  continually  looking  over  their  shoul- 
ders fearing  to  catch  a  sight  of  the  troops  of  the  queen,  whose 
appearance  they  every  moment  apprehended.  But  the_  ener- 
getic Catharine  had  anticipated  this  movement,  and  her  emis- 
saiies  had  already  gained  the  soldiers  of  the  garrison,  and  were 
in  possession  of  Cronstadt, 

As  the  two  yachts,  which  conveyed  Peter  and  his  party, 
entered  the  harbor,  they  found  the  garrison,  under  arms, 
lining  the  coast.  The  cannons  were  leveled,  the  matches 
lighted,  and  the  moment  the  foremost  yacht,  which  contained 
the  emperor,  cast  anchor,  a  sentinel  cried  out, 

"  Who  conies  there?" 

"The  emperor,"  was  the  answer  from  the  yacht. 

"There  is  no  emperor,"  the  sentinel  replied. 


ACCESSIOX      OF      CATHARINE      II,  397 

Peter  III.  started  forward  upon  the  deck,  and,  throwing 
back  his  cloak,  exhibited  the  badges  of  his  order,  exclaiming, 

"  What !  do  you  not  know  me  ?" 

"  No  !"  cried  a  thousand  voices ;  "  Ave  know  of  no  em- 
peror.    Long  live  the  Empress  Catharine  II."     ' 

They  then  threatened  immediately  to  sink  the  yacht  unless 
the  tzar  retired. 

The  heroic  Munich  urged  the  tzar  to  an  act  of  courage  of 
which  he  was  totally  incapable. 

"  Let  us  leap  on  shore,"  said  he  ;  "  none  will  dare  to  tire 
on  you,  and  Cronstadt  will  still  be  your  majesty's," 

But  Peter,  in  dismay,  fled  into  the  cabin,  hid  himself 
among  his  women,  and  ordered  the  cable  instantly  to  be  cut, 
and  the  yacht  to  be  pulled  out  to  sea  by  the  oars.  They 
were  soon  beyond  the  reach  of  the  gims.  It  was  now  night, 
serene  and  beautiful  ;  the  sea  was  smooth  as  glass,  and  the 
stars  shone  with  unusual  splendor  in  the  clear  sky.  The  pol- 
troon monarch  of  all  the  Russias  had  not  yet  ventured  upon 
deck,  but  was  trembling  in  his  cabin,  surrounded  by  his  dis- 
mayed mistresses,  when  the  helmsman  entered  the  cabin  and 
said  to  the  tzar, 

"Sire,  to  what  port  is  it  your  majesty's  pleasure  that  I 
should  take  the  vessel  ?" 

Peter  gazed,  for  a  moment,  in  consternation  and  bewilder- 
ment, and  then  sent  for  Munich. 

"  Field  marshal,"  said  he,  "  I  perceive  that  I  was  too 
late  in  Ibllowing  your  advice.  You  see  to  what  extrem- 
ities I  am  reduced.  Tell  me,  I  beseech  you,  what  I  ought 
to  do." 

About  two  hundred  miles  from  where  they  were,  directly 
down  the  Gulf  of  Finland,  was  the  city  of  Revel,  one  of  the 
naval  depots  of  Russia.  A  large  squadron  of  ships  of  war 
was  riding  at  anchor  there.  Munich,  as  prompt  in  council  as 
he  was  energetic  in  action,  replied, 

"  Proceed  immediately  to  join    the   squadron    at   Revel. 


398  THE     EilPIEE      OF     RUSSIA. 

There  tiiko  a  ship,  and  go  on  to  Pomerania.*  Put  yourself 
at  the  head  of  your  army,  return  to  Russia,  and  I  promise 
you  that  in  six  weeks  Petersburg  and  all  the  rest  of  the  em- 
pire will  be  ill  subjection  to  you." 

Tlie  women  and. the  courtiers,  with  characteristic  timiility, 
remonstrated  against  a  measure  so  decisive,  and,  believing 
that  the  empress  would  not  be  very  implocable,  entreated 
the  tzar  to  negotiate  rather  than  tight.  Peter  yielded  to 
their  senseless  solicitations,  and  ordered  them  to  make  imme- 
diately for  Oranienbaum.  They  reached  the  dock  at  four 
o'clock  in  the  morning.  Peter  hastened  to  his  apartment, 
and  wrote  a  letter  to  the  empress,  which  he  dispatched  by  a 
courier.  In  this  letter  he  made  a  humble  confession  of  his 
faults,  and  promised  to  share  the  sovereign  autliority  with 
Catharine  if  she  would  consent  to  reconciliation.  The  em- 
press was,  at  this  time,  at  the  head  of  her  army  within  about 
twenty  miles  of  Oranienbaum.  During  the  night,  she  had 
slept  for  a  few  hours  upon  some  cloaks  which  the  officers  of 
her  suite  had  spread  for  her  bed.  Catharine,  knowing  well 
tliat  perjury  was  one  of  the  most  trivial  of  the  faults  of  the 
tzar,  made  no  reply,  but  pressed  forward  with  her  troops. 

Peter,  soon  receiving  information  of  the  advance  of  the 
army,  ordered  one  of  his  fleetest  horses  to  be  saddled,  and 
dressed  himself  in  disguise,  intendhig  thus  to  eifect  his  escape 
to  the  frontiers  of  Poland.  But,  with  his  constitutional  irreso- 
lution, he  soon  aban<k)ned  tliis  plan,  and,  ordering  the  fortress 
of  Oranienbaum  to  be  dismantled,  to  convince  Catharine  that 
lie  intended  to  make  no  resistance,  he  wrote  to  the  empress 
another  letter  still  more  humble  and  sycoj)haiitic  than  the 
first.  He  implored  her  forgiveness  in  terms  of  the  most 
abject  humiliation.  He  assured  her  that  he  was  ready  to 
resign   to  her  unconditionally  the  crown  of  Russia,  and  that 

*  Pomerania  was  one  of  the  duchies  of  Prussia,  where  the  Russian  army, 
in  cooperation  with  the  King  of  Prussia,  was  assembled.  Frederic  might, 
perliaps,  have  sent  his  troops  to  aid  Peter  in  the  recovery  of  his  crown. 


ACCESSION      OF     CATHARINE     II.  399 

he  only  asked  permission  to  retire  to  his  native  duchy  of  Hoi- 
stein,  and  that  the  empress  would  graciously  grant  him  a  pen- 
sion tor  his  support. 

Catharine  read  the  letter,  l)ut  deigning  no  reply,  sent 
back  the  chamberlain  who  brought  it,  with  a  verbal  message 
to  her  husband  that  she  could  enter  into  no  negotiations  witli 
him,  and  could  only  accept  his  unconditional  submission.  Tlie 
chamberlain,  Isinailot!,  returned  to  Oranienbaum.  The  tzar 
Lad  with  him  there  only  his  Ilolstein  guaid  consisting  of  six 
hundred  men.  Ismailof  urged  the  tzar,  as  the  only  measure 
of  safety  which  now  remained,  to  abandon  Ids  troops,  who 
could  render  him  no  defense,  and  repair  to  the  empress, 
throwing  himself  upon  her  mercy.  For  a  shoit  time  the  im- 
potent mind  of  the  degraded  prince  was  in  great  turmoil. 
But  as  was  to  be  expected,  he  surrendered  himself  to  the 
humiliation.  Entering  his  carriage,  he  rode  towards  Peter- 
hof  to  meet  the  empress.  Soon  he  encountered  the  battal- 
ions on  the  march  for  his  capture.  Silently  they  opened 
their  ranks  and  allowed  him  to  enter,  and  then,  closing 
around  him,  they  stunned  him  with  shouts  of,  "  Long  live 
Catharine." 

The  miserable  man  ha<l  the  elfrontery  to  take  with  him, 
in  his  carriage,  one  of  his  mistresses.  As  she  alighted  at  the 
palace  of  Peterhof,  some  of  the  soldiers  tore  the  ribbons  from 
hei-  dress.  The  tzar  was  led  up  the  grand  stair-case,  sti'ii)i)ed 
of  the  insignia  of  imperial  ])0wer,  and  was  shut  up,  and  care- 
fully guarded  in  one  of  the  chambers  of  the  palace.  Count 
Panin  then  visited  him,  by  order  of  the  empress,  and  de- 
manded of  him  the  abdication  of  the  crown,  infjrming  him 
that  having  thus  abdicated,  he  would  be  sent  back  to  his 
native  duchy  and  would  enjoy  the  dignity  of  Duke  of  Ilol- 
stein foi-  the  icmainder  of  his  days.  Peter  Avas  now  as 
pliant  as  wax.  Aided  l)y  the  count,  he  wrote  and  signed 
the  following  declaration  : 

"  During  the  short  space  of  my  absolute  reign  over  the 


400  THE     EM  PIKE      OF     RUSSIA. 

empire  of  Russia,  I  became  sensible  tliat  I  was  not  able  to 
support  so  great  a  burden,  and  that  my  abilities  were  not 
ecpial  to  the  task  of  governing  so  great  an  empire,  either  as  a 
sovereign  or  in  any  other  capacity  whatever.  I  also  foresaw 
the  great  troubles  which  must  thence  have  arisen,  and  have 
been  followed  with  the  total  ruin  of  the  empire,  and  my  own 
eternal  disgrace.  After  having  therefore  seriously  reflected 
thereon,  I  declare,  without  constraint,  and  in  the  most  solemn 
manner,  to  the  Russian  empire  and  to  the  whole  universe, 
that  I  for  ever  renounce  tlie  government  of  the  said  empire, 
never  desiring  hereafter  to  reign  therein,  either  as  an  absolute 
sovereign,  or  under  any  other  form  of  government ;  never 
■wishing  to  aspire  thereto,  or  to  use  any  means,  of  any  sort,  for 
that  purpose.  As  a  pledge  of  which  I  swear  sincerely  before 
God  and  all  the  woi'ld  to  this  present  I'enunciation,  written 
and  signed  this  29th  day  of  June,  O.  S.  17G2."* 

Peter  III.,  having  placed  this  abdication  in  the  hands  of 
Cgunt  Panin,  seemed  quite  serene,  fancying  himself  safe,  at 
least  from  bodily  harm.  In  the  evening,  however,  an  officer, 
with  a  strong  escort,  came  and  conveyed  him  a  prisoner  to  Rop- 
scha,  a  small  imperial  palace  about  fifteen  miles  from  Peter- 
hof  Peter,  after  his  disgraceful  reign  of  six  months,  was  now 
imprisoned  in  a  palace  ;  and  his  wife,  whom  he  had  intended 
to  repudiate  and  probably  to  behead,  was  now  sovereign  Em- 
jjress  of  Russia.  In  the  evening,  the  thunderings  of  the  can- 
non upon  the  ramparts  of  St.  Petersburg  announced  the 
victory  of  Catharine.  She  however  slept  that  night  at  Peter- 
hof,  and  in  the  morning  received  the  homage  of  the  nobility, 
who  from  all  quarters  flocked  around  her  to  give  in  their 
adhesion  to  her  reign. 

Field  Marshal  Munich,  who  with   true  ftalty  had  stood  by 

*  By  the  Gregorian  Calendar  or  New  Style,  adopted  by  Pope  Gregory 
XIII.  in  1582,  ten  days  were  dropped  after  the  4th  of  October,  and  the  5th 
•was  reckoned  as  the  15th.  Thus  the  29th  of  June,  0.  S.  would  be  July  8, 
N.  R. 


ACCESSION      OF  ATHARINK     II.  401 

Peter  TIT.  to  tlie  last,  urging  liim  to  unfiir]  the  banner  of  tlie 
izar  and  tight  heroically  for  his  crown,  appeared  \vitli  the  rest. 
The  noble  old  man  with  an  unblushing  brow  entered  the  pres- 
ence of  Catharine.  As  soon  as  she  perceived  him  she  called 
aloud, 

"  Field  marshal,  it  was  you,  then,  who  wanted  to  fight 
me  ?" 

"Yes,  madam,"  Munich  answered,  in  a  manly  tone; 
"  could  I  do  less  for  the  prince  who  delivered  me  from  cap- 
tivity ?  But  it  is  henceforth  my  duty  to  fight  for  you,  and 
you  will  find  in  me  a  fidelity  equal  to  that  with  which  I  l»ad 
devoted  my  services  to  him."* 

In  the  afternoon,  the  empress  returned  to  St.  Petersbui'g. 
She  entered  the  city  on  horseback,  accompanied  by  a  bril- 
liant retinue  of  nobles,  and  follovved  by  her  large  army  of 
fifteen  thousand  troo])?.  All  the  soldiers  wore  gai'lands  of 
oak  leaves.  The  immense  crowds  in  the  city  formed  lines  for 
the  passage  of  the  empress,  scattered  flowers  in  her  path,  and 
greeted  her  with  constant  buists  of  acclaim.  All  the  streets 
through  which  she  passed  were  garlanded  and  spanned  with 
tiiuniphal  arches,  the  bells  rang  their  merriest  peals,  and  mil- 
itary salutes  bellowed  from  all  the  ramparts.  As  the  high  ec 
clesiastics  crowded  to  meet  her,  they  kissed  her  hand,  while 
she,  in  accordance  with  Rusvian  courtesy,  kissed  their  checks. 

*  Marshal  Munich  was  eighty-two  years  of  age.  Elizabeth  had  sent  him 
to  Siberian  exile.  Peter  liberated  him.  Upon  his  return  to  Moscow,  after 
twenty  years  of  exile,  he  found  one  son  living,  and  Iwent^'-two  grandchildren 
and  great  grandchildren  whom  he  had  never  seen.  When  the  heroic  old 
m:in  presented  himself  before  tlie  tzar  dressed  in  the  shccp-skiu  coat  he  had 
Avorn  in  Siberia,  Peter  said, 

"  1  hope,  notwithstanding  your  age,  you  may  still  serve  me." 

Munich  replied, 

"Since  your  majesty  has  brought  me  from  darkness  to  light,  and  called  mo 
from  tlie  depths  of  a  cavern,  to  admit  mo  to  the  foot  of  the  throne,  you  will 
find  mo  ever  ready  to  expose  my  life  in  your  service.  Neither  a  tedious 
exile  nor  the  severity  of  ;i  Siberian  climate  have  been  able  to  oxtinguisli,  or 
even  to  damp,  the  ardor  J  iiavo  formerly  shown  lor  the  interests  of  Russia 
and  the  glory  of  its  monarcli." 


402  THE     E  M  P  I  n  IC     OF     II  i:  S  S  I  A  . 

Catharine  summoned  the  senate,  and  presided  over  its 
delibei-ations  with  wonderful  dignity  and  a'l'ace.  The  foreitrn 
ministers,  confident  in  the  stabihty  of  her  reign,  hastened  to 
present  their  congratuhitions.  Peter  foiuid  even  a  few  hours 
in  tlie  solitude  of  the  palace  of  Ropscha  exceedingly  oppres- 
sive ;  he  ac(;oi'dingly  sent  to  the  empress,  soliciting  the  pres- 
ence of  a  negro  servant  to  whom  he  was  much  attached,  and 
asking  also  for  his  dog,  his  violin,  a  Bible  and  a  few  novels. 

"  I  am  disgusted,"  he  wrote,  "  with  the  wickedness  of 
mankind,  and  am  resolved  henceforth  to  devote  myself  to  a 
philosophical  life." 

After  Peter  had  been  six  days  at  Ropscha,  one  morning 
two  nobles,  who  had  been  most  active  in  the  revolution  which 
had  dethroned  tlie  tzar,  entered  his  apartment,  and,  after  con- 
versing for  a  time,  brandy  was  brought  in.  The  cup  of  which 
tlie  tz.ir  drank  was  poisoned  !  He  was  soon  seized  with  vio- 
lent colic  pains.  The  assassins  then  threw  him  upon  the  floor, 
tie<l  ;i  napkin  around  his  neck,  and  strangled  him.  Count  Orlof, 
the  most  intimate  friend  of  the  empress,  and  who  was  reputed 
to  be  h.er  paramoui',  was  one  of  these  murdei-ers.  He  imme- 
diately mounted  his  horse,  and  rode  to  St.  Petersburg  to 
inform  the  empress  that  Peter  was  dead.  Whether  Cath- 
arine was  a  party  to  this  assassination,  or  whether  it  was 
pei-petrated  entirely  without  her  knowledge,  is  a  question 
which  now  can  probably  never  be  decided.  It  is  very  certain 
that  the  grief  she  manifested  was  all  feigned,  and  that  the 
assassins  were  rewarded  for  their  devotion  to  her  interests. 
Slie  shut  herself  up  for  a  few  days,  assuming  the  aspect  of  a 
mourner,  and  issued  to  her  subjects  a  declaration  announcing 
tlie  death  of  the  late  tzar.  Wiien  one  enters  upon  the  de- 
clivity of  crime,  the  descent  is  ever  rapid.  The  innocent  girl, 
who,  but  a  few  years  before,  had  entered  the  Russian  court 
from  her  secluded  ancestral  castle  a  spotless  child  of  fifteen, 
was  now  most  deeply  involved  in  intrigues  and  sins.  It  is 
probable,  indeed,  that  slie  had  not  intended  the  death  of  her 


ACCESSION      OF      CATHARINE     II.  403 

hnsband,  hut  luul  designed  sending  liim  to  Holstein  and  pro- 
viding for  liiin  abundantly,  for  the  rest  of  his  days,  witli  dogs 
and  wine,  and  leaving  him  to  his  own  indulgences.  It  is  cer- 
tain, however,  tliat  the  empress  did  not  punish,  or  even  dis- 
miss from  her  favor,  the  murderers  of  Peter.  She  announced 
to  the  nation  his  death  in  the  following  terms  : 

"jBy  the,  Grace  of  God,  Catharine  II.,  impress  of  all 
the  Mussias,  to  our  loving  /Subjects,    Greeting: 

"  The  seventh  day  after  our  accession  to  the  throne  of  all 
the  Kussias,  we  received  information  that  the  late  emperor, 
Peter  ilJ.,  was  attacked  with  a  most  violent  colic.  That  we 
might  not  be  wanting  in  Christian  duty,  or  disobedient  to 
the  divine  command  by  which  we  are  enjoined  to  preserve 
the  life  of  our  neighbor,  we  immediately  ordered  that  tiie 
said  Peter  should  be  furnished  with  every  thing  that  might 
be  judged  necessary  to  restore  his  health  by  the  aids  of  med- 
icine. But,  to  our  great  regret  and  affliction,  we  were  yester- 
day evening  apprised  that,  by  the  permission  of  the  Almighty, 
the  late  emperor  departed  this  life.  We  have  therefore  or- 
dered his  body  to  be  conveyed  to  the  monastery  of  Netsky,  in 
order  to  its  interment  in  that  place.  At  the  same  time,  with 
our  imperial  and  maternal  voice,  we  exhort  our  thithful  sub- 
jects to  forgive  and  forget  what  is  past,  to  pay  the  last  duties 
to  Ills  body,  and  to  pray  to  God  sincerely  tor  the  repose  of 
his  soul,  wishing  them,  however,  to  consider  this  unexpected 
and  sudden  deatli  as  an  especial  effect  of  the  providence  of 
God,  whose  impenetrable  decrees  are  working  tor  us,  for  our 
throne,  and  f<jr  our  country  things  known  only  to  his  hol}'^ 
^vill. 

"Done  at  St.  Petersburg,  July  7th  (N.  S.,  July  18th), 
17G2." 

The  news  (jf  the  revolution  soon  spread  throughout  Russia, 
and  the  nobles  generally  acquiesced  in  it  without  a  murmur. 
The  masses  of  the  people  no  more  thought  of  expiessing  or 


404  THE     EJIPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

having  an  opinion  than  did  the  sheep.  One  of  the  first  acts 
of  the  empress  was  to  send  an  embassy  to  Frederic  of  Prussia, 
announcing, 

"That  slie  was  resolved  to  observe  inviohd)ly  the  i)eace 
recently  concluded  with  Prussia ;  but  that  nevertheless  she 
had  decided  to  bring  back  to  Russia  all  her  troops  in  Silesia, 
Prussia  and  Poraerania." 

All  the  sovereigns  of  Europe  acknowledged  the  title  of 
Catharine  II.,  and  some  sent  especial  congratulations  on  her 
accession  to  the  thi'one.  Maria  Theresa,  of  Austria,  was  at 
first  quite  delighted,  hoping  that  Catharine  would  again  unite 
the  Russian  troops  with  hers  in  hostility  to  her  great  rival, 
Frederic.  But  in  tins  expectation  she  was  doomed  to  bitter 
disappointment.  The  King  of  Prussia,  in  a  confidential  note 
to  Count  Finkenstcin,  wrote  of  Catharine  and  the  new  reign 
as  follows : 

"  The  Emperor  of  Russia  has  been  dethroned  by  his  con- 
sort. It  was  to  be  expected.  Tliat  princess  has  much  good 
sense,  and  the  same  friendly  relations  towards  us  as  the  de- 
ceaseil.  She  has  no  religion,  but  acts  the  devotee.  The  clian- 
cellor  Bcstuchef  is  her  greatest  favorite,  and,  as  he  has  a  strong 
])ropensity  to  guuiees^  I  flatter  myself  that  I  shall  be  able  to 
rL-taiii  the  i'riendship  of  the'  court.  The  poor  emperor  wanted 
.to  imitate  Peter  I.,  but  he  had  not  the  capacity  for  it." 

The  em})ress,  taking  with  her  her  scjn  Paul,  and  a  very 
brilliant  and  nuuierous  suite  of  nobles,  re]j;iired  to  Moscow, 
where  she  was  crow  iied  with  unusual  splendor.  By  marked 
attention  to  the  soldiers,  providing  most  liberally  for  their 
comfort,  she  soon  secured  the  enthusiastic  attachment  of  the 
army.  By  the  most  scrupulous  observance  of  all  tlie  external 
rites  of  religion,  she  won  the  confidence  of  the  clergy.  In 
every  movement  Catharine  exhibited  wonderful  sagacity  and 
energy.  It  was  not  to  be  supposed  that  the  partisans  of  Peter 
III.  would  be  ejected  from  their  places  to  give  room  for  others, 
witliout  making  desperate  efforts  to  regain  what  they  had  lost. 


ACCESSION      OF      CATHARINE      II.  405 

A  very  foi-midable  conspiracy  was  soon  organized,  and  the 
friends  of  Catharine  were  thrown  into  the  greatest  state  of 
alarm.    But  lier  courage  did  not,  for  one  moment,  forsake  lier. 

"  Why  are  you  alarmed  ?"  said  she.  "  Think  you  that  I 
fear  to  face  this  danger  I  or  rather  do  you  apprehend  that  I 
know  not  how  to  overcome  it '?  Recollect  that  you  have  seen 
me,  in  moments  far  more  terrible  than  these,  in  full  possession 
of  all  the  vigor  of  my  mind;  and  that  I  can  support  the  most 
cruel  reverses  of  fortune  with  as  much  serenity  as  I  have  sup- 
ported her  favors.  Think  you  that  a  i'iiw  mutinous  soldiers 
are  to  deprive  me  of  a  crown  that  I  accepted  with  reluctance, 
and  only  as  the  means  of  delivering  the  Russian  nation  from 
their  miseries?  They  cause  me  no  alarm.  That  Providence 
which  has  called  me  to  reign,  wiU  preserve  me  for  the  glory 
and  the  happiness  of  the  empire.  That  almighty  arm  Avhich 
has  hitherto  been  my  defense  will  now  confound  my  foes !" 

The  revolt  was  speedily  quelled.  The  celebrity  of  her  ad- 
ministration soon  resounded  from  one  end  of  Europe  to  the 
other.  She  presided  over  the  senate;  assisted  at  all  the  delib- 
erations of  the  council ;  read  the  dispatches  of  the  embassa- 
dors;  wrote,  with  her  own  hand,  or  dictated  the  answers,  and 
watched  carefully  to  see  that  all  her  order  were  faithfully 
executed.  She  studied  the  lives  of  the  most  distinguished 
men,  and  was  emulous  of  the  renown  of  those  who  had  been 
friends  and  benefactors  of  the  human  race.  There  has  seldom 
been  a  sovereign  on  any  throne  more  assiduously  devoted  to 
the  cares  of  empire  than  was  Catharine  II.  In  one  of  her  first 
manifestoes,  issued  the  10th  of  August  of  this  year,  she  uttered 
the  words,  which  her  conduct  proved  to  be  essentially  true, 

"  Not  only  all  that  we  have  or  may  have,  but  also  our 
life  itself,  we  have  devoted  to  our  dear  country.  We  value 
nothing  on  oui-  own  account.  We  serve  not  ourself.  But  we 
labor  with  all  pains,  with  all  diligence  and  care  lor  the  glory 
and  happiness  of  our  people." 

Catharine  found  corruption  and  bribery  everywhere,  and 


406  THE     EHPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

she  engaged  in  the  work  of  reform  with  tlie  energies  of  Her- 
cules in  cleansing  the  Augean  stables.  She  abolished,  indig- 
nantly the  custom,  which  had  existed  for  ages,  of  attempting 
to  extort  confession  of  crime  by  tortui'e.  It  is  one  ot  tiie 
marvels  of  human  depravity  that  intelligent  minds  could  have 
been  so  imbruted  as  to  tolerate,  for  a  day,  so  fiend-like  a 
wrong.  The  whole  system  of  inquisitorial  investigations,  in 
both  Church  and  State,  was  utterly  abrogated.  Foreigners 
were  invited  to  settle  in  the  empire.  The  lands  were  care- 
fully explored,  that  the  best  districts  might  be  pointed  out 
for  tillage,  for  forest  and  for  pasture.  The  following  procla- 
mation, inviting  foreigners  to  settle  in  Russia,  shows  the 
liberality  and  the  comi)rehensive  views  which  animated  the 
empress : 

"  Any  one  who  is  destitute  shall  receive  money  for  the 
expenses  of  his  journey,  and  shall  be  forwarded  to  these  free 
lands  at  the  expense  of  the  crown.  On  his  arrival  he  sliall 
receive  a  competent  assistance,  and  even  an  advance  of  capi- 
tal, free  of  interest,  for  ten  years.  The  stranger  is  exempted 
from  all  service,  either  military  or  civil,  and  from  all  taxes  for 
a  certain  time.  In  these  new  tracts  of  land  the  colonists  may 
live  according  to  their  own  good-will,  under  their  own  jui-is- 
diction  for  thii-ty  years.     All  religions  are  tolerated." 

Thus  encouraged,  thousands  flocked  from  Germany  to  the 
fresh  and  fertile  acres  on  the  banks  of  the  Volga  and  the  Sa- 
mara. The  emigration  became  so  great  that  several  of  the 
petty  German  princes  issued  prohibitions.  In  the  rush  of 
adventurers,  of  the  indolent,  the  improvident  and  the  vicious, 
great  suftering  ensued.  Desert  wilds  were,  however,  peopled, 
and  the  children  of  the  emigrants  succeeded  to  homes  of  com- 
parative comfort.  Settlers  crowded  to  these  lands  even  from 
France,  Poland  and  Sweden.  Ten  thousand  fimilies  emi- 
grated to  the  district  of  Saratof  alone. 

"The  world,"  said  Catharine  one  day  to  the  Fi-ench  min- 
ister, "will  not  be  able  i)ioi)erly  to  judge  of  my  administration 


ACCESSION      OF     CATIIARIXTS      II.  407 

till  ;ifter  five  years.  It  will  require  at  least  so  much  time  to 
reduce  the  empire  to  order.  In  the  mean  time  I  shall  behave, 
with  all  the  princes  of  Europe,  like  a  iinished  coquette.  I 
have  the  linest  army  in  the  world.  I  have  a  greater  taste 
for  war  than  for  peace  ;  but,  I  am  restrained  from  war  by 
humanity,  justice  and  reason.  I  shall  not  allow  myseltj  like 
Elizabeth,  to  be  pressed  into  a  war.  I  shall  enter  upon  it 
when  it  will  prove  advantageous  to  me,  but  never  from  com- 
plaisance to  others." 

A  large  number  of  the  nobles,  led  by  the  chancellor  of 
the  empire,  now  presented  a  petition  to  Catharine,  urging  her 
again  to  marry.  After  a  glowing  eulogium  on  all  the  empress 
had  done  for  the  renown  and  prosperity  of  Russia,  they  le- 
minded  her  of  the  feeble  constitution  of  her  son  Paul,  of  the 
terrible  calamity  a  disputed  succession  might  impose  upon 
Russia,  and  entreated  her  to  give  an  additional  proof  of  her 
devotion  to  the  good  of  her  subjects,  by  sacrificing  her  own 
liberty  to  their  welfare,  in  taking  a  spouse.  This  advice  was 
quite  in  harmony  with  the  inclinations  of  the  empress.  Count 
Orlof,  one  of  the  most  cons[)icuous  nobles  of  the  court,  and 
tlie  prime  actor  in  the  cons})iracy  which  had  overthrown  and 
assassinated  Peter  III.,  was  the  i-ecognized  favorite  of  Catha- 
rine. But  Count  Orlof  had  assumed  such  haughty  airs,  re- 
garding Catharine  as  indebted  to  him  for  her  crown,  that  i)e 
had  rendeied  himself  extremely  unpopular  ;  and  so  much 
discontent  was  manifested  in  view  of  his  elevation  to  the 
throne,  that  Catharine  did  not  dare  to  proceed  with  the  meas- 
ure. It  is  generally  supposed,  however,  that  there  was  a  sort 
of  private  marriage  instituted,  of  no  real  validity,  between 
Catharine  and  Orlof,  by  which  the  count  became  virtually 
the  husband  of  the  empress. 

Cathai'iiic  was  now  fii'mly  estal>lished  on  the  throne.  Tlio 
beneticial  clfects  of  her  administration  were  daily  becom- 
ing more  apparent  in  all  parts  of  Russia.  Nothing  which 
could  be   piomotivc  of  the  pro^]»erity  of  the  empire  escaped 


408  THE     KM  PI  HE      OF      RUSSIA. 

her  observation.  With  questions  of  commerce,  finance  and 
politics  she  seemed  equally  familiar.  On  the  11th  of  August, 
1673,  she  issued  an  imperial  edict  written  by  her  own  hand, 
ill  which  it  is  said, 

"  On  the  whole  surface  of  the  earth  there  is  no  country 
better  adapted  for  commerce  than  our  empire.  Russia  has 
spacious  harbors  in  Euroj^e,  and,  overland,  the  way  is  open 
through  Poland  to  every  i-egion.  Siberia  extends,  on  one 
side,  over  all  Asia,  and  India  is  not  very  remote  from  Oren- 
burg. On  the  other  side,  Russia  seems  to  touch  on  America. 
Aci-oss  tlie  Euxine  is  a  passage,  though  as  yet  unexplored, 
to  Egypt  and  Africa,  and  bountiful  Providence  has  blessed  the 
extensive  provinces  of  our  empire  with  such  gifts  of  nature  as 
can  rarely  be  found  in  all  the  four  quarters  of  the  world." 


CHAPTER    XXV. 

REIGN    OF    CATHARINE    II. 
From  1765  to  1774. 

Ekeroy  of  Catiiarini^'s  Admixistration. — Titles  of  IIoxor  Decreed  to  Her. — Code 
OK  Laws  Instituted. — The  Assassination  of  the  Empress  Attempted. — Encour- 
agement of  Leauxed  Men. — Catharine  Inoculated  for  the  S.mall-I'ox. — Kew 
War  with  Turkey. — Capture. op  the  Crimea. — Sailing  of  the  Russian  Fleet. — 
Great  Xaval  Victory. — Visit  of  the  Prussian  Prince  Henry. — The  Sleigh 
Ride. — Plans  for  the  Partition  of  Poland. — The  Hermitage. — Marriage  of 
THE  Grand  Duke  Paul. — Correspondence  witu  Voltaire  and  Diderot. 

^PHE  friends  and  the  foes  of  Calliariue  are  alike  lavish  in  their 
-■-  encomiums  upon  her  attempts  to  elevate  Russia  in  pros- 
j)erity  and  in  national  greatness.  Under  her  guidance  an  as- 
sembly was  convened  to  frame  a  code  of  laws,  based  on  jus- 
tice, and  which  should  be  supreme  throughout  all  Russia. 
The  assembly  prosecuted  its  work  with  great  energy,  and, 
ere  its  dissolution,  pa.ssed  a  resolution  decreeing  to  the  em- 
press the  titles  of  "  Great,  Wise,  Prudent,  and  Mother  of  the 
Country." 

To  this  decree  Catharine  modestly  replied,  "  If  I  have 
rendered  myself  worthy  of  the  first  title,  it  belongs  to  pos- 
terity to  confer  it  upon  me.  Wisdom  and  prudence  are  the 
gifts  of  Heaven,  for  which  I  daily  give  thanks,  without  pre- 
suming to  derive  any  merit  from  them  myself.  The  title  of 
Mother  of  the  Country  is,  in  my  eyes,  the  most  dear  of  all, 
— the  only  one  I  can  accept,  and  which  I  regard  as  the  most 
benign  and  glorious  recompense  for  my  labors  and  solicitudes 
in  behalf  of  a  people  whom  I  love." 

The  code  of  laws  thus  framed  is  a  noble  monument  to  the 
genius  and  humanity  of  Catharine  II.     The  piinciples  of  eii- 

18 


410  THE      EMPIRE     OF      KUSSTA. 

lightened  philanthropy  pervades  the  code,  which  recognizes 
the  immutable  principles  of  right,  and  which  seems  designed 
to  undermine  the  very  foundations  of  despotism.  In  the  in- 
structions which  Catharine  drew  up  for  the  guidance  of  the 
assembly,  she  Avrote, 

"Laws  should  be  framed  with  the  sole  object  of  con- 
ducting mankiiul  to  tlie  greatest  happiness.  It  is  onr  duty  to 
mitigate  the  lot  of  those  who  live  in  a  state  of  dependence. 
The  liberty  and  security  of  the  citizens  ought  to  be  the  grand 
and  precious  object  (if  all  laws  ;  they  should  all  tend  to  ren- 
der life,  honor  and  pro])erty  as  stable  and  secure  as  the  con- 
stitution of  the  govei'nment  itself.  It  is  incomparably  better 
to  prevent  crimes  than  to  ])unish  them.  The  use  of  tortui-e 
is  contrary  to  sound  reason.  Humanity  cries  out  against  this 
practice,  and  insists  on  its  being  abolished." 

The  condition  of  the  peasantry,  heavily  taxed  by  the 
nobles,  excited  her  deepest  commiseration.  She  wished 
their  entire  enfranchisement,  but  was  fully  conscious  that 
she  was  not  strong  enough  to  undertake  so  sweeping  a  niea- 
sin-e  of  reform.  8'ie  insisted,  however,  "that  laws  should 
be  pi'escribed  to  the  nobility,  obliging  them  to  act  more  cir- 
cumspectly in  the  manner  of  levying  their  dues,  and  to  pro- 
tect the  peasant,  so  that  his  condition  might  be  improved 
and  that  he  might  be  enabled  to  acquire  property." 

A  ruffian  attempted  to  assassinate  C^ithaiino.  He  was  ar- 
rested in  the  palace,  with  along  dagger  concealed. in  his  dress, 
and  without  hesitation  confessed  iiis  design.  Catharine  had 
the  assassin  brought  into  her  presence,  conversed  mildly  with 
him,  and  seeing  that  tiieie  wa-<  no  hdpe  of  disarming  his  (:i- 
naticism,  banished  him  to  Siberia,  But  the  innocent  daughter 
of  the  guilty  man  she  took  under  her  jnotcction,  and  subse- 
quently appointed  her  one  of  her  maids  of  hounr.  In  the 
year  1V6V,  she  sent  a  delegation  of  scientific  men  on  a  geo- 
logical suivey  into  the  intei'ior  of  the  empire,  with  directions 
to  determine  the  geographical  position  of  the  pi-incipal  places, 


i:  E  '  G  X     OF      C  A  T  11  A  R  I  X  E      II.  411 

to  mark  their  temperature,  tlieir  jn-odiictions,  their  wealth, 
an<l  tlie  in;nineis  ;ind  characters  of  the  several  people  by 
whom  they  were  inhabited,  Russia  was  then,  as  now,  a 
world  by  itself,  peopled  by  innumcrabk'  tribes  or  nations, 
with  a  great  diversity  of  climates,  and  with  an  infinite  variety 
of  manners  and  customs.  A  large  poilion  of  the  country 
was  immersed  in  the  profonndest  barbarism,  almost  inacces- 
sible to  tile  traveler.  In  other  portions  vagrant  liordes 
wandered  without  any  fixed  habitations.  Here  was  seen  the 
castle  of  the  noble  with  all  its  imposing  architecture,  «)id  its 
enginery  of  offense  and  defense.  The  mud  hovels  of  the 
peasants  were  clustered  around  the  massive  pile  ;  and  they 
passed  their  lives  in  the  most  degrading  bondage. 

From  all  parts  of  Europe  the  most  learned  men  were  in- 
vited to  the  court  of  Catharine.  The  renowned  mathemati- 
cian, Euler,  was  lured  from  Berlin  to  St.  Petersburg.  The 
empress  settled  upon  him  a  large  annual  stipend,  and  made 
him  a  present  of  a  house.  Catharine  was  fully  conscious  that 
the  glory  of  a  country  consists,  not  in  its  military  achieve- 
ments, but  in  advancement  in  science  and  in  the  useful  and 
elegant  arts.  The  annual  sum  of  five  thousand  dollars  was 
assigned  to  encourage  the  translation  of  foreign  literary 
works  into  the  Russian  language.  The  small-pox  was  mak- 
ing fearful  ravages  in  Russia.  The  empress  had  heard  of 
inoculation.  She  sent  to  England  for  a  physician.  Dr.  Ti)omas 
Dimsdale,  who  had  piacticed  inoculation  for  the  small-pox 
with  great  success  in  L(Midon.  Immediately  upon  his  ai-rival 
the  empiess  sent  for  him,  and  with  skill  which  astonished  the 
physician,  questioned  him  respecting  his  mode  of  practice. 
He  was  invited  to  dine  with  the  empress;  and  the  doctor 
thus  describes  the  dinner  party  : 

"The  empress  sat  singly  at  the  upper  end  of  a  long  table, 
nt  which  about  twelve  of  the  nobility  were  gui'sts.  The  en- 
tertainment consisted  of  a  variety  of  excellent  dishes,  served 
up  after  the  French  manner,  and  was  concluded  by  a  dessert 


412  THE     EilPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

of  the  finest  fruits  and  sweetmeats,  such  as  I  little  exjjected 
to  find  in  that  northern  climate.  Most  of  these  luxuries  were, 
however,  the  produce  of  the  empress's  own  dominions.  Pine- 
apples, indeed,  are  chiefly  imported  from  England,  though 
those  of  the  growth  of  Russia,  of  which  we  had  one  tiiat  day, 
are  of  good  flavor  but  generally  small.  Water-melons  and 
gra[)es  are  brougl)t  from  Astrachan  ;  great  plenty  of  melons 
from  Moscow  ;  and  apples  and  pears  from  the  Ukraine. 

"But  what  most  enlivened  the  whole  entertainment,  was 
the  unaflccted  ease  and  aflfability  of  the  empress  herself 
Each  of  her  guests  had  a  share  of  her  attention  and  polite- 
ness. The  conversation  was  kept  up  with  freedom  and  cheer- 
fulness to  be  expected  rather  from  persons  of  the  same  rank, 
than  from  subjects  admitted  to  tJie  honor  of  their  sovereii^ii\s 
company." 

The  empress  after  conversing  with  Dr.  Dimsdale,  decided 
to  introduce  the  pi-actice  of  siuall-jtox  inoculation^'  into  Rus- 
sia, and  heroically  resolved  that  the  experiment  should  first 
be  tried  upon  herself  Dr.  Dimsdale,  oppressed  by  the  im- 
)nense  responsibility  thus  thrown  upon  him,  for  though  the 
disease,  thus  introduced,  was  generally  mild,  in  not  a  few 
cases  it  proved  fatal,  requested  the  assistance  of  the  court 
physicians. 

"  It  is  not  necessary,"  the  empress  replied ;  "  you  come 
well  recommended.  The  conversation  I  have  had  inci'eases 
my  confidence  in  you.  It  is  impossible  that  my  physicians 
should  have  much  skill  in  this  opei-ation.  My  life  is  my  own, 
and  with  the  utmost  cheerfulness  I  entrust  myself  to  your 
care.  I  wish  to  be  inoculated  as  soon  as  you  judge  it  con- 
venient, and  desire  to  have  it  kept  a  secret." 

The  anxious  physician  begged  that  the  experiment  might 

*  Yaccination,  or  inoculation  witli  the  cow-pox,  was  not  introduced  to 
Europe  until  many  years  after  this.  The  celebrated  treatise  of  Jenner,  en- 
titled An  inqiury  into  the  causes  and  effects  of  Varioke  Vaccincp,  was  published 
in  1798. 


REIGN     OF     C  A  T  II  A  R  I  !Sr  E     II.  413 

first  be  tried  by  inoculating  some  of  her  own  sex  and  age, 
and,  as  near  as  possible,  of  her  own  constitutional  habits. 
The  empress  replied, 

"  The  practice  is  not  novel,  and  no  doubt  remains  of  its 
general  success.  It  is,  therefore,  not  necessary  that  there 
should  be  any   delay  on  that  account." 

Catharine  was  inoculated  on  the  12th  of  October,  1768, 
and  went  immediately  to  a  secluded  private  palace  at  some 
distance  from  the  city,  under  the  pretense  that  she  wished  to 
superintend  some  repairs.  She  took  with  her  only  the  ne- 
cessary attendants.  Soon,  however,  several  of  the  nobility, 
some  of  whom  she  suspected  had  not  had  the  small-pox, 
followed.  As  a  week  was  to  elapse  after  the  operation  be- 
fore the  disease  would  begin  to  manifest  itself,  the  empress 
said  to  Ur.  Dnnsdale, 

"  I  must  rely  on  you  to  give  me  notice  when  it  is  possible 
for  me  to  communicate  the  disease.  Though  I  could  wish  to 
keep  my  inoculation  a  secret,  yet  far  be  it  from  me  to  conceal 
it  a  moment  when  it  may  become  hazardous  to  others." 

In  the  mean  time  she  took  part  in  every  amusement  with 
her  wonted  affability  and  without  the  slightest  indication  of 
alarm.  She  dined  with  the  rest  of  the  company,  and  enliv- 
ened the  whole  court  with  those  conversational  charms  for 
which  she  was  distinguished.  The  disease  proved  light,  and 
she  was  carried  through  it  very  successfully.  Soon  after,  she 
wrote  to  Voltaire, 

"  I  have  not  kept  my  bed  a  single  instant,  and  I  have 
received  company  every  day.  I  am  about  to  have  my  only 
son  inoculated.  Count  Orlof,  that  hero  who  resembles  the 
ancient  Romans  in  the  best  times  of  the  republic,  both  iu  cour- 
age and  generosity,  doubting  whether  he  had  ever  iiad  the 
small-pox,  has  put  himself  uiifTer  the  hands  of  our  Kiiglish- 
nian,  and,  the  next  day  after  the  operation,  went  to  tht;  hunt 
in  a  very  deep  fall  of  snow.  A  great  nund:)er  of  courtiers 
have  followed  his  example,  and   many  others  ai'e  preparing  to 


414  '     THE    E  M  p  I  i:  e    o  k    ii  li  s  s  i  a  . 

do  so.  Besides  this,  inoculation  is  now  carried  on  at  Peters- 
burg in  three  seminaries  of  education,  and  in  an  liospital  estab. 
lislied  undei'  tlie  protection  of  Dr.  Dinisdale." 

The  empress  testified  her  gratitude  for  the  benelits  Dr. 
Dimsdale  had  conferred  upon  Russia  by  making  liim  a  present 
of  fifty  thousand  dollars,  and  settling  upon  lum  a  pension  of 
one  tliousand  dollars  a  year.  On  the  3d  of  December,  17G8, 
a  thanlisgiving  ser\ice  was  performed  in  the  chapel  of  the  pal- 
ace, in  gratitude  for  the  recovery  of  her  majesty  and  lier  son 
Paul  from  tlie  small-pox. 

The  Turks  began  now  to  manifest  great  apprehensions  in 
view  of  tlie  rapid  growth  of  the  Russian  empire.  Poland  was 
so  entirely  ovei-sl.a<lowed  that  its  monarchs  were  elected  and 
its  government  administered  under  tlie  influence  of  a  Russian 
army.  In  truth,  Poland  liad  become  but  little  more  than  one 
of  the  provinces  of  Catharine's  empire.  The  Grand  Seignior 
formed  an  alliance  with  the  disalfected  Poles,  arrested  the 
Russian  embassador  at  Constantinople,  and  mustered  his  hosts 
for  war.  Catharine  II.  was  prepared  lor  the  emergency.  Early 
in  1769  the  Russian  army  commenced  its  march  towards  the 
banks  of  the  Cuban,  in  the  wilds  of  Cii'cassia.  Tlie  Tartars  of 
the  Crimea  were  the  first  foes  whom  the  armies  of  Catharine 
encountered.  The  Sea  of  Azof,  with  its  surrounding  shores, 
soon  fell  into  the  possession  of  Russia.  One  of  the  generals 
of  Catharine,  General  Drevitcli,  a  man  whose  name  deserves 
to  be  held  U[)  to  eternal  iulamy,  took  nine  Polish  gentlemen 
as  caj)tivis,  and,  cutting  oft'  their  hands  at  the  wrist,  sent 
them  home,  thus  mutilated,  to  strike  terror  into  the  Poles. 
Already  Frederic  of  Prussia  and  Catharine  were  secretly  con- 
ferring upon  a  united  attack  upon  Poland  and  the  division  of 
the  territory  between  them. 

Frederic  sent  his  brother  Henry  to  St.  Petersburg  to  con- 
fer with  Catharine  upoji  this  contemplated  robbery,  sulficiently 
gigantic  in  character  to  be  worthy  of  the  energies  of  the  royal 
bandits.     Catharine  received  Henry  with  splendor  which  the 


REIGX      OF      CATIIAIMNE     II.  415 

world  lias  seklom  seen  equaled.  One  of  the  enterliiininents 
with  which  she  honored  him  was  a  nu)(>nliglit  sleigh  vide 
arranged  upon  a  scale  of  imperial  grandeur.  The  sleigh 
wliich  conveyed  Catharine  and  the  Prussian  prince  was  an  im- 
mense parlor  drawn  by  sixteen  horses,  covered  and  inclost'il 
by  double  glasses,  which,  with  numberless  mirrois,  reflected 
all  objects  within  and  without.  This  sledge  was  followed  by 
a  retinue  of  two  thousand  others.  Every  person,  in  all  the 
sledges,  was  dressed  in  fancy  costume,  and  masked.  "When 
two  miles  from  the  city,  the  train  passed  beneath  a  triumj)hal 
arch  illuminated  with  all  conceivable  splendor.  At  the  dis- 
tance of  every  mile,  some  grand  structure  appeared  in  a  blaze 
of  light,  a  pyramid,  or  a  temple,  or  colonnades,  or  the  most 
brilliant  displays  of  tireworks.  Opposite  each  of  these  struc- 
tures ball  rooms  had  been  reared,  which  were  crowded  with 
the  rustic  peasantry,  amusing  themselves  with  music,  dancing 
and  all  the  gann^'s  of  the  country.  Each  of  the  spacious 
houses  of  ent<'rtainment  pei'sonated  some  ])articular  Russian 
nation,  where  tiie  dress,  music  and  ;'.museni^'nts  of  that  nation 
were  represented.  All  sorts  of  gymnastic  feats  were  also  ex- 
hibited, such  as  vaulting,  tumbling  and  feats  upon  tlie  slack 
and  tight  rope. 

Through  such  scenes  the  imperial  pleasure  party  rode, 
until  a  high  mountain  appeared  through  an  avenue  cut  in 
the  forest,  representing  Mount  Vesuvius  during  an  eruption. 
Vast  l)illows  of  flame  were  rolling  to  the  skies,  and  the  whole 
region  was  illumined  with  a  blaze  of  light.  The  spectators 
had  hardly  recovered  from  the  astonishment  which  this  dis- 
play caused,  when  the  train  suddenly  entered  a  Ciiinese 
village,  which  proved  to  be  but  the  i)orlal  to  tin?  imperial 
palace  of  Tzarkoselo.  The  i)alace  was  lighted  witli  an  infinite 
niiml>er  of  wax  candles.  For  two  hours  the  guests  amused 
themselves  with  dancing.  Suddenly  there  was  a  grand  dis- 
charge of  cannon.  The  candles  were  immediately  extin- 
gui.shed,  and  a  magniflcent    display  of  flreworks,  extending 


416  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RT^SSIA. 

along  the  whole  breadth  of  tlie  palace,  converted  night  into 
day.  Again  there  was  a  thundering  discharge  of  artillery, 
when,  as  by  enchantment,  the  candles  blazed  anew,  and  a 
sumptuous  supper  was  served  up.  After  the  entertainment, 
dancing  was  renew^ed,  and  was  continued  until  morning. 

The  empress  had  a  private  palace  at  St.  Petersburg  which 
she  called  her  Hermitage,  where  she  received  none  but  her 
choicest  friends.  This  sumptuous  editice  merits  some  minute- 
ness of  description.  It  consisted  of  a  suite  of  apartments  con- 
taining every  thing  which  the  most  volu})tuous  and  exquisite 
taste  could  combine.  The  spacious  building  was  connected 
with  the  imperial  palace  by  a  covered  arch.  It  would  i-equire 
a  volume  to  describe  the  treasures  of  art  and  industry  with 
which  it  abounded.  Here  the  empress  had  her  private  library 
and  her  private  picture  gallery.  Raphael's  celebrated  gallery 
in  the  Vatican  at  Rome  was  exactly  repeated  here  with  the 
most  accurate  copies  of  all  the  paintings,  corner  pieces  and 
other  ornaments  of  the  same  size  and  in  the  same  situations. 
Medals,  engravings,  curious  pieces  of  art,  models  of  mechan- 
ical inventions  and  collections  of  specimens  of  minerals  and 
of  objects  of  natural  history  crowded  the  cabinets.  Chambers 
were  arranged  for  all  species  of  amusements.  A  pleasure 
garden  was  constructed  upon  arches,  with  furnaces  beneath 
them  in  winter,  that  the  plants  might  ever  enjoy  genial  heat. 
This  garden  was  covered  with  line  brass  wire,  that  the  birds 
from  all  countries,  singing  among  the  trees  and  shrubs,  or 
hopping  along  the  grass  plots  and  gravel  walks,  and  which 
the  empress  was  accustomed  to  feed  with  her  own  hand, 
might  not  escape.  While  the  storms  of  a  Russian  \v inter 
were  howling  without,  the  empress  here  could  tread  upon 
verdant  lawns  and  gravel  walks  beneatli  luxuriant  vegetation, 
listening  to  bird  songs  and  partaking  of  fruits  and  flowers  of 
every  kind. 

In  this  artificial  Eden  the  empress  often  received  Henry, 
the  Prussian  ])rince,  and  matured  her  plan  for  the  pai'tition  of 


R  E  I  G  J!s      O  F      C  A  X  11  A  K  I  N  E      I  I  .  417 

Poland.  The  festivities  which  dazzled  the  eyes  of  the  friv- 
olous courtiers  were  hardly  thought  of  by  Catharine  and 
Henry.  Mr.  Richardson,  an  P]nglish  gentleman  who  was  ia 
the  family  of  Lord  Catiicart,  then  the  British  embassador  at 
the  Russian  court,  had  sufficient  sagacity  to  detect  that,  be- 
neath this  display  of  amusements,  political  intrigues  of  great 
moment  were  being  woven.  He  wrote  from  St.  Petersburg. 
on  the  1st  of  January,  1771,  as  follows: 

"  This  city,  since  the  beginning  of  winter,  has  exhibited  a 
continued  scene  of  festivities;  leasts,  balls,  concerts,  plays, 
and  masquerades  in  continued  succession  ;  and  all  in  honor 
of,  and  to  divert  his  royal  highness,  Prince  Henry  of  Prussia, 
the  famous  brother  of  the  present  king.  Yet  his  royal  high- 
ness does  not  seem  to  be  much  diverted.  He  looks  at  them 
as  an  ohl  cat  looks  at  the  gambols  of  a  young  kitten  ;  or  as 
one  who  has  higher  sport  going  on  in  his  mind  than  the  pas- 
time of  fiddling  and  dancing.  He  came  here  on  pretense  of 
a  friendly  visit  to  the  empress;  to  have  the  happiness  of  wait- 
ing on  so  magnanimous  a  princess,  and  to  see,  w'ith  his  own 
eyes,  the  progress  of  those  immense  in)provements,  so  highly 
celebrated  by  Voltaire  and  those  French  writers  who  receive 
gifts  from  her  majesty. 

"  But  do  you  seriously  imagine  that  this  creature  of  skin 
and  bone  should  travel  through  Sweden,  Finland  and  Poland, 
all  for  tilt;  pleasure  of  seeing  the  metropolis  and  the  empress 
of  Russia  ?  Other  princes  may  pursue  such  pastime  ;  but  the 
princes  of  the  house  of  Brandenbuig  tly  at  a  nobler  quarry. 
Oi-  is  the  King  of  Prussia,  as  a  tame  spectator,  to  reap  no 
advantage  from  the  troubles  in  Poland  and  the  Turkish 
war?  What  is  tlie  meaning  of  Ins  late  conferences  with  the 
Emperor  of  Germany  ?  Depend  upon  it  these  planetary  con- 
junctions are  the  forerunners  of  great  events.  A  few  months 
may  unfold  the  secret.  You  will  recollect  the  signs  when, 
after  this,  you  shall  hear  of  changes,  usurpations  and  revolu- 
tions." 

18* 


418  THE      EMPIRE      OF      RTTSSIA. 

In  one  of  these  interviews,  in  which  the  dismemberment 
of  Poland  was  resolved  on,  Catharine  said, 

"I  will  frighten  Turkey  and  flatter  England.  Do  you 
take  it  upon  yourself  to  buy  over  Austria,  and  amuse  France." 

Though  the  arrangements  for  the  partition  were  at  this 
time  all  made,  the  portion  which  was  to  be  assigned  to  Aus- 
tria agreed  upon,  and  trie  extent  of  territory  which  each  was 
to  appropriate  to  itself  settled,  the  formal  treaty  was  not 
signed  till  two  years  afterwards. 

The  war  still  continued  to  rage  on  the  frontiers  of  Tur- 
key. After  ten  months  of  almost  incessant  slaughter,  the  Turk- 
ish army  was  nearly  destroyed.  The  empress  collected  two 
squadi'ons  of  Russian  men-of-war  at  Archangel  on  the  White 
Sea,  and  at  Revel  on  the  Baltic,  and  sent  them  through  the 
straits  of  Gibraltar  into  the  Mediterranean.  All  Europe  was 
astonished  at  this  wonderful  apparition  suddenly  presenting 
itself  amidst  the  islands  of  the  Archipelago.  The  inhabitants 
of  the  Greek  islands  were  encouraged  to  rise,  and  they  drove 
out  their  Mussulman  oppressors  with  great  slaughter.  Catha- 
rine was  alike  victorious  on  the  land  and  on  the  sea;  and  she 
began  very  seriously  to  contemplate  driving  the  Turks  out  of 
Europe  and  taking  possession  of  Constantinople.  Her  land 
troops  speedily  overran  the  immense  provinces  of  Bessarabia, 
Moldavia  and  Wallachia,  and  annexed  them  to  the  Russian 
empire. 

The  Turkish  fleet  encountered  the  Russians  in  the  narrow 
channel  which  separates  the  island  of  Scio  from  Xatolia.  In 
one  of  the  fiercest  naval  battles  on  record,  and  which  raged 
for  five  hours,  the  Turkish  fleet  Avas  entirely  destroyed.  A 
courier  was  instantly  dispatched  to  St.  Petersburg  with  the 
exultant  tidings.  The  rejoicings  in  St.  Petersburg,  over  this 
naval  victory,  were  unbounded.  The  empress  was  so  elated 
that  she  resolved  to  liberate  both  Greece  and  Egypt  from  the 
sway  of  the  Turks.  The  Turks  were  in  a  terrible  panic,  and 
resorted  to  the  most  desperate  measures  to  defend  the  Dar- 


REIGN      OF      C  A  T  II  A  K  I  N  E     II.  419 

daiK'lles,  tliat  the  Russian  fleet  miglit  not  ascend  to  Ci»nstnn- 
tinople.  At  tlie  same  time  the  plague  broke  out  in  Constan- 
tinople with  horrible  violence,  a  thousand  dying  daily,  tor 
several  weeks. 

The  immense  Crimean  peninsula  contains  fifteen  thousand 
square  miles,  being  twice  as  large  as  the  State  of  Massa- 
chusetts. The  isthmus  of  Perikop,  which  connects  it  with  the 
mainland,  is  but  five  miles  in  width.  The  Turks  had  forti- 
fied this  passage  by  a  ditch  seventy-two  feet  wide,  and  forty- 
two  feet  deep,  and  had  stationed  along  this  line  an  army  of 
fifty  thousand  Tartars.  But  the  Russians  forced  the  barrier, 
and  the  Crimea  became  a  Russian  province.  The  victorious 
army,  however,  soon  encountered  a  foe  whom  no  courage 
could  vancpiish.  The  plague  broke  out  in  their  camp,  and 
spread  through  all  Russia,  with  desolation  which  seems  in- 
credible, although  well  authenticated.  In  Moscow,  not  more 
than  one  fourth  of  the  inhabitants  were  left  alive.  More 
than  sixty  thousand  died  in  that  city  in  less  than  a  year. 
For  days  the  dead  lay  in  the  streets  where  they  had  fallen, 
there  not  being  carts  or  people  enough  to  carry  them  away. 
The  pestilence  gradually  subsided  before  the  intensity  of  win- 
try frosts. 

The  devastations  of  war  and  of  the  plague  rendered  both 
the  Russians  and  Turks  desirous  of  peace.  On  the  2d  of 
August,  IV  72,  the  Russian  and  Turkish  plenipotentiaries  met 
under  tents,  on  a  plain  about  nineteen  miles  north  of  Bu- 
charest, the  capital  of  Wallachia.  The  Russian  ministers  ap- 
proached in  four  grand  coaches,  preceded  by  hussars,  and 
attended  by  one  hundred  and  sixty  servants  in  livery.  The 
Turkish  ministers  came  on  horseback,  with  about  sixty  serv- 
ants, all  dressed  in  great  simplicity.  The  two  parties,  how- 
ever, could  not  agree,  and  tlie  confi'rence  was  broken  up. 
The  negotiations  were  soon  resumed  at  Bucharest,  but  this 
attempt  was  also  equally  unsuccessful  with  the  first. 

The  ])l()t  f  )r  the  pai-litiou  of  Poland  was  now  ripe.     Rus- 


420  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

sia,  Prussia  aucl  Austria  had  agreed  to  march  tlieir  armies 
into  ihe  kingdom  and  di\idu  a  very  hirge  {)ortion  of  tlie 
territory  between  them.  It  was  as  high-handed  a  robbery 
as  the  world  ever  witnessed.  There  is  some  consolation, 
however,  in  the  reflection,  that  the  masses  of  the  people  iii 
Poland  were  quite  unaffected  by  the  change.  They  were  no 
more  oppressed  by  their  new  despots  than  ihey  had  been 
for  ages  by  their  old  ones.  By  this  act,  Russia  annexed  to 
her  terrilury  the  enormous  addition  of  three  thousand  lour 
hundred  and  forty  square  leagues,  sparsely  inhabited,  indeed, 
yet  containing  a  population  of  one  million  live  hundred  thou- 
sand. Austria  obtained  less  territory,  but  nearly  twice  as 
mai\y  iniiabitants.  Prussia  obtained  tlie  contiguous  prov- 
inces she  coveted,  with  about  nine  hundred  thousand  iidiab- 
itants.  They  still  left  to  the  King  of  Poland,  in  this  iirst 
partition,  a  small  fragment  of  his  kingdom.  The  King  of 
Prussia  removed  from  his  portion  the  first  year  twelve  thou- 
sand families,  who  were  sent  to  populate  the  uninhabited 
wilds  of"  his  hereditary  dominions.  All  the  young  men 
■were  seized  and  sent  to  the  Prussian  army.  The  same 
general  course  was  pursued  by  RiJ^sia.  That  the  Polish 
]M)pulation  might  be  incorporated  with  that  of  Russia,  and 
all  national  individuality  lost,  the  Poles  were  removed  into 
ancient  Russia,  while  whole  provinces  of  Russians  were  sent 
to  populate  Poland. 

Tile  vast  wealth  which  at  this  time  the  Russian  court  was 
able  to  extort  from  labor,  may  be  inferred  from  the  fact,  that 
while  the  empress  was  carrying  on  the  most  expensive  wars, 
her  disbursements  to  favorites,  generals  and  literary  men — in 
encouraging  the  arts,  purchasing  libraries,  pictures,  statues,  an- 
tiques and  jewels,  vastly  exceeded  that  of  any  European  ])iince 
excepting  Louis  XIV.  A  diamond  of  very  large  size  and 
purity,  weighing  seven  hundred  and  seventy-nine  carats,  was 
brought  from  Ispahan  by  a  Greek.  Catharine  purchased  it 
for  live  hundred  thousand   dollars,  settling  at  the  same  time 


REIGN      OF      CATUAKINE     II.  421 

a  pension  of  five  thousantl  dollars  for  life,  upon  the  foitunate 
Greek  of  wlioni  she  bought  it.  « 

The  war  si  ill  raged  fiercely  in  Turkey  wilh  the  usual  vi- 
cissitudes of  battles.  The  Danube  at  length  became  the 
boundary  betneen  the  hostile  arniies,  its  wide  expanse  of 
watei-,  its  islands  aiul  its  wooded  shores  affording  endless  op- 
portunity for  surprises,  ambuscades,  flight  and  pursuit.  Un- 
der these  circumstances  war  was  prosecuted  with  an  enor- 
mous loss  of  life;  but  as  the  wasting  armies  were  continually 
being  replenished,  it  seemed  as  though  there  could  be  no  en<l 
to  the  strife. 

Catharine  had  for  some  time  been  meditating  a  marriage 
for  her  son,  the  Grand  Duke  Paul.  There  was  a  grand  duchy 
in  Germany,  on  the  Rhine,  almost  equally  divided  by  that 
stream,  called  Darmstadt.  It  contained  three  thousand  nine 
liundred  square  miles,  being  about  half  the  size  of  the  State 
of  Massachusetts,  and  embraced  a  population  of  nearly  a 
million.  The  Duke  of  Darmstadt  had  three  vei'y  attractive 
daughters,  either  one  of  whom,  Catharine  thought,  would 
make  a  very  suitable  match  for  her  son.  Siie  accordingly 
invited  the  tliree  young  ladies,  with  their  mother,  to  visit 
lier  court,  that  her  son  might,  alter  a  careful  scrutiny,  take 
his  |)ick.  The  brilliance  of  the  prospective  m;itch  with  the 
tzar  of  all  the  Russias  outweighed  every  scruple,  and  the 
invitation  was  eagerly  acceptd.  Paul  was  cold  as  an  iceberg, 
stubborn  as  a  mule  and  crack-brained,  but  he  could  place  on 
tlie  brow  of  his  spouse  the  crown  of  an  empress.  Catharine 
received  her  guests  with  the  greatest  magnificence,  loaded 
them  with  jiresents,  and  finally  chose  one  of  them,  Wilhel- 
raina,  for  the  bi-ide  of  Paul.  The  marriage  Avas  solenmized 
on  the  10th  of  Xovember,  1778,  with  all  the  splendor  with 
which  the  Russian  couit  could  invest  the  occasion,  the  festivi- 
ties being  continued  from  the  10th  to  the  21st  of  the  month. 

Catharine,  with  her  own  hand,  kept  up  a  regular  corre- 
S))ondciice  with  many  lilei'ary  and  scientific,  men  in  other  parts 


422  THK      EMPIRE      OP      RUSSIA. 

of  Europe,  particularly  witli  Yoltaire  and  Diderot,  the  illus- 
trious philosophers  of  France.  Several  times  she  sent  them 
earnest  invitations  to  visit  her  court.  Diderot  accepted  her 
invitation,  and  was  received  with  confiding  and  friendly  at- 
tentions which  no  merely  cron-ned  head  could  have  secured. 
Diderot  sat  at  the  table  of  the  empress,  and  daily  held  long 
social  interviews  with  her,  conversing  upon  politics,  philoso- 
phy, legislation,  freedom  of  conscience  and  the  riglits  ofnations. 
Catharine  was  charmed  with  the  enthusiasm  and  eloquence  of 
her  guest,  but  she  perfectly  appreciated  the  genius  and  the 
puerility  combined  in  his  charactei". 

"  Diderot,"  said  she,  "  is  a  hundred  years  old  in  many 
respects,  but  in  others  he  is  no  more  than  ten." 

The  following  letter  from  Catharine  to  Diderot,  Avritten 
Avith  all  the  freedom  of  the  most  confidential  correspondence, 
gives  a  clearer  view  of  the  character  of  Catharine's  mind,  and 
of  her  energy,  than  any  description  could  give. 

"  Now  we  are  speaking  of  haughtiness,  I  have  a  mind  to 
make  a  general  confession  to  you  on  that  head.  I  have  had 
great  successes  during  this  war  ;  that  I  am  glad  of  it,  you 
will  very  naturally  conclude.  I  find  that  Russia  will  be  well 
known  by  this  war.  It  will  be  seen  how  indefatigable  a  na- 
tion it  is;  that  she  possesses  men  of  eminent  merit,  and  who 
have  all  the  qualities  which  go  to  the  forming  of  heroes.  It 
will  be  seen  that  she  is  deficient  in  no  resources,  but  that  she 
can  defend  herself  and  prosecute  a  war  with  vigor  whenever 
she  is  unjustly  attacked. 

"Brimful  of  these  ideas,  I  have  never  once  thought  of  Cath- 
arine, who,  at  the  age  of  forty-two,  cau  increase  neitlier  in 
body  nor  in  mind,  but,  in  the  natural  order  of  things,  ought 
to  remain,  and  will  remain,  as  she  is.  Do  her  affairs  go  on 
well  ?  she  says,  so  much  the  better.  If  they  prosper  less, 
she  would  employ  all  her  faculties  to  put  them  in  a  better 
train. 

"  This  is  my  ambition,  and  I  have  none  other.     What  I 


REIGN      OP      C  A  T  n  \  R  I  X  K      II.  423 

tell  yon,  is  the  tnUh.  I  will  go  further,  and  say  that,  for  tho 
s])aring  of  human  blood,  I  sincerely  wish  for  peace.  But 
this  peace;  is  still  a  long  way  otf,  though  the  Turks,  from  dif- 
ferent motives,  are  ardently  desirous  of  it.  Those  people 
know  not  how  to  go  about  it. 

"I  wish  as  much  for  the  pacification  of  the  unreasonable 
contentions  of  Poland.  I  have  to  do  there  with  brainless 
heads,  each  of  which,  instead  of  contributing  to  the  common 
peace,  on  the  contrary,  throws  impediments  in  the  way  of  it 
by  caprice  and  levity.  My  embassador  has  published  a  decla- 
ration adapted  to  open  their  eyes.  But  it  is  to  be  presumed 
that  they  will  rather  expose  themselves  to  the  last  extremity 
than  adopt,  without  delay,  a  wise  and  consistent  rule  of  con- 
duct. The  vortices  of  Descartes  never  existed  anywhere  but 
in  Poland.  There  every  head  is  a  vortex  turning  continually 
around  itself  It  is  stopped  by  chance  alone,  and  never  by 
reason  or  judgment. 

"I  have  not  yet  received  your  Qne.'it/'ons*  or  your  watch- 
es fi-om  Ferney.  I  have  no  doubt  that  the  work  of  your  arti- 
ficers is  perfect,  since  they  woi'k  under  your  eyes.  Do  not 
scold  your  rustics  for  liaving  sent  me  a  surplus  of  watches. 
The  expense  of  them  will  not  ruiu  me.  It  would  be  vei-y 
unfortunate  for  me  if  I  wei-e  so  ftir  reduced  as  not  to  have,  foi" 
sudden  emergencies,  such  small  sums  whenever  I  waut  them. 
Judge  not,  I  beseech  you,  of  our  finances  by  those  of  the 
other  ruined  potentates  of  Europe.  Though  we  have  been 
engaged  in  war  for  three  years,  we  proceed  in  our  buildings, 
and  every  thing  else  goes  on  as  in  a  time  of  profound  peace. 
It  is  two  years  since  any  new  impost  was  levied.  The  war, 
at  present,  has  its  fixed  establishment ;  tliat  once  regulatecl, 
it  never  disturbs  the  course  of  other  aifairs.  If  we  capture 
another  Kesa  or  two,  the  war  is  paid  for. 

"  I  shall  be  satisfied  with  myself  whenever  I  meet  with 
your  a}>probation,  monsieur.  I  likewise,  a  few  weeks  ago, 
*  Questions  sur  rEncyclopedio. 


424  THE      EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

read  over  again  my  instructions  for  the  code,  because  I  then 
thought  peace  to  be  nearer  at  hand  than  it  is,  and  I  found 
that  I  was  right  in  composing  thera.  I  confess  that  this  code 
Avill  give  me  a  considerable  deal  of  trouble  before  it  is  brouglit 
to  that  degree  of  perfection  at  which  I  wish  to  see  it.  But 
no  matter,  it  must  be  completed. 

"Perhaps,  in  a  little  time,  the  khan  of  the  Crimea  will  be 
brought  to  me  in  pei'son.  I  learn,  this  moment,  that  he  did 
not  cross  the  sea  with  the  Turks,  but  that  he  remained  in  the 
mountains  with  a  very  small  numl>er  of  followers,  nearly  as 
was  the  case  with  the  Pretender,  in  Scotland,  after  the  defeat 
at  CuUoden.  If  he  conies  to  me,  we  will  try  to  polish  him 
this  winter,  and,  to  take  my  revenge  of  him,  I  will  make  him 
dance,  and  he  shall  go  to  the  French  comedy. 

"Just  as  I  was  about  to  fold  up  this  letter,  I  received 
yours  of  the  10th  of  July,  in  which  you  inform  me  of  the 
adventure  that  happened  to  my  '  Instruction'*  in  France. 
I  knew  that  anecdote,  and  even  the  appendix  to  it,  in  conse 
quence  of  the  order  of  the  Duke  of  Choiseul.  I  own  that  I 
laughed  on  reading  it  in  the  newspapers,  and  I  found  that  I 
was  amply  revenged." 

*  Her  majesty's  instruction  for  a  code  of  laws. 


CHAPTER    XXYI. 

REIGN     OF    CATHARINE     II. 
From  1774  to  1781. 

Peace  with  Turket.— Couut  op  Catharine  II. — Her  Personal  Ai'pearanoe  and 
Habits.— Conspiracy  and  Rebellion. — Defeat  op  the  Kebels.— Macnanimity 
OF  Cathauink  II. — Ambition  of  the  Empress. — Court  Favorite. — Division  op 
ErssiA  INTO  Provinces. — Internal  Improve.mknts. — New  Partition  of  Poland. 
—Death  of  the  Wife  of  Paul.— Second  Makriaoe  op  the  Grand  Duke.— Splen- 
dor or  the  IU'ssian  Court.— Russia  and  Austria  Secretly  Combine  to  Drive 
THE  Turks  out  of  Europe.— The  Emperor  Joseph  II. 

TX  1774  peace  was  concliuk'd  with  Turkey,  on  terms  which 
-*-  added  greatly  to  the  renown  and  grandeur  of  Russia.  By 
this  treaty  the  Crimea  was  severed  from  tlie  Ottoman  Porte, 
and  declared  to  be  independent.  Russia  obtained  tlie  free 
navigation  of  the  Black  Sea,  the  Bosporus  and  the  Darda- 
nelles. Immense  tracts  of  land,  lying  on  the  Euxinc,  were 
ceded  to  Russia,  and  the  Grand  Seignior  also  paid  Catharine  a 
large  sum  of  money  to  defray  the  expenses  of  the  wai-,  Xo 
language  can  describe  the  exultation  which  this  treaty  created 
in  St.  Petersburg.  Eight  days  were  devoted,  by  order  of  the 
empress,  to  feasts  and  rejoicings.  The  doors  of  the  prisons 
M-ere  thrown  open,  and  even  the  Siberian  exiles  were  per- 
mitted to  return. 

The  court  of  Catharine  II.  at  this  period  was  the  most 
brilliant  in  Europe.  In  no  other  court  was  more  attention 
paid  to  the  most  polished  and  agreeable  manners.  The  ex- 
penditure on  her  court  establishment  amounted  to  nearly  four 
millions  of  dollars  a  year.  In  personal  apjieaiance  the  empress 
was  endowed  with  the  attractions  both  of  beauty  and  of 
queenly  dignity.     A  cotcmporary  writer  thus  describes  her : 


426  THE     E  M  P  ]  K  E      OF      K  f  S  S  I  A  . 

"  She  is  of  that  stature  wliicli  is  necessarily  requisite  to 
perfect  elegance  of  form  in  a  lady.  She  has  tine  large  blue 
eyes,  with  eyebrows  and  hair  of  a  brownish  color.  Her  mou.tli 
is  well-proportioned,  chin  round,  witli  a  foreliead  regular  and 
open.  Her  hands  and  arms  are  round  and  white,  and  her 
figure  plump.  Her  bosom  is  full,  her  neck  high,  and  she  car- 
ries hei-  head  with  j^eculiar  grace. 

"  The  empress  never  wears  rich  clothes  except  on  solemn 
festivals,  when  her  head  and  corset  are  entirely  set  with  bril- 
liants, and  she  wears  a  crown  of  diamonds  and  precious  stones. 
Her  gait  is  majestic ;  and,  in  the  whole  of  her  form  and  man- 
ner there  is  something  so  dignified  and  noble,  that  if  she  were 
to  be  seen  without  ornament  or  any  outward  marks  of  distinc- 
tion, among  a  great  number  of  ladies  of  rank,  she  would  be 
immediately'  esteemed  the  cliief  She  seems  born  to  command, 
though  in  her  cliaracter  there  is  more  of  liveliness  than  of 
gravity.  She  is  courteous,  gentle,  benevolent  and  outwardly 
d.'vout." 

Like  almost  every  one  who  has  attained  distinction,  Cath- 
aiine  was  very  systeinatic  in  the  employment  of  her  time.  She 
usually  rose  at  about  five  o'clock  botli  in  summer  and  wintei- ; 
and  what  seems  most  remarkable,  pi-epared  her  own  simple 
breakfast,  as  she  was  not  fond  of  being  waited  upon.  But  a 
short  time  was  devoted  to  her  toilet.  From  eight  to  eleven 
in  the  forenoon  she  was  busy  in  her  cabinet,  signing  commis- 
sions and  issuing  orders  of  various  purport.  The  liour,  from 
eleven  to  twelve,  was  daily  devoted  to  divine  worship  in  her 
chapel.  Then,  until  one  o'clock,  she  gave  audience  to  the 
ministers  of  the  various  departments.  From  half  past  one  till 
two  she  dined.  She  then  returned  to  her  cabinet,  where  she 
was  busily  employed  in  cares  of  state  until  four  o'clock,  when 
she  took  an  airing  in  a  coach  or  sledge.  At  six  she  usually 
exhibited  herself  for  a  short  time  to  her  subjects  at  the  thea- 
tei-,  and  at  ten  o'clock  she  retired.  Court  balls  were  not  lin- 
iiequently  given,  but  the  empress   never   condescended    to 


K  E  I  G  N      OP      0  A  T  11  A  R  I  X  K      II.  427 

dance,  tlioiigh  occasionally  she  would  make  one  at  a  game  of 
cards.  She,  however,  took  but  little  interest  in  the  game, 
being  much  more  foiui  of  talking  with  the  ladies,  generals  and 
ministers  who  surrounded  her.  Even  from  these  court  balls 
tlie  very  sensible  empress  usually  retired,  by  a  slide  door,  at 
ten  o'clock. 

The  empress  informed  herself  minutely  of  every  thing 
which  concerned  the  administration  of  government.  Her 
ministers  were  merely  instruments  in  lier  hands  executing  her 
imperial  will.  x\.ll  matters  relating  to  the  army,  the  navy,  the 
finances,  the  punishment  of  crime  and  to  foreign  aifairs,  were 
reported  to  her  by  her  ministers,  and  were  guided  by  her  de- 
cisions. 

There  must  always  be,  in  every  government,  an  opposition 
party — that  is,  a  party  who  wish  to  eject  fVom  office  those  in 
power,  that  they  themselves  may  enj<^y  the  loaves  and  fishes 
of  governmental  favor.  This  is  peculiarly  tln^  case  in  an  em- 
pire where  a  large  class  of  haughty  nobles  are  struggling  for 
the  preeminence.  INIany  of  the  bigoted  clergy  were  exasper- 
ated by  the  toleration  which  the  empress  enjoined,  and  they 
united  with  the  disaiFected  lords  in  a  conspiracy  for  a  revolu- 
tion. The  clergy  in  the  provinces  liad  great  influence  over 
the  unlettered  boors,  and  the  conspiracy  soon  assumed  a  very 
threatening  aspect.  The  first  rising  of  rebellion  was  by  the 
"wild  population  scattered  along  the  banks  of  the  Don.  The 
rebellion  was  headed  by  an  impostor,  who  declared  that  he 
was  Peter  III.,  and  that,  having  escaped  irom  those  who  had 
attempted  his  assassination,  he  had  concealed  himself  for  a 
long  time,  waiting  for  vengeance.  This  barbaric  chieftain, 
who  was  called  Pugatsheli  very  soon  found  himself  at  the 
liead  of  fourteen  thousand  fierce  warriors,  and  commenced 
ravaging  oriental  Russia.  For  a  season  his  march  was  a 
constant  victory.  Many  thousatnl  Siberian  exiles  escaped 
from  their  gloomy  realms  and  joined  his  standards.  So  as- 
tonishing  was    his    success,    that    even    Catharine    trembled. 


428  THE      EMPIRE     OF      RUSSIA. 

Pngntshef  waged  a  war  of  extermination  against  the  nobles 
Avlio  were  the  supporters  of  Catharine,  in  cold  blood  behead- 
ing their  wives  and  children,  and  conferring  their  titles  and 
estates  upon  his  followers.  The  empress  found  it  necessary 
to  rouse  all  her  energies  to  meet  this  peril.  She  issued  a 
manifesto,  which  was  circulated  through  all  the  towns  of 
the  empire,  and  raised  a  large  army,  which  was  dispatched 
to  crush  the  rebellion.  Battle  after  battle  ensued,  until,  at 
last,  in  a  decisive  conflict,  the  hosts  of  Pugatshef  were  utterly 

cut  Uj). 

Still,  this  indefatigable  warrior  soon  raised  another  army 
from  the  untamed  bai'barians  of  the  Don,  and,  rapidly  de- 
scending the  Volga,  attacked,  by  suri^rise,  some  Russian 
regiments  encamped  upon  its  banks,  and  routed  them  with 
fearful  slaughter.  The  astronomer,  Lovitch,  a  member  of 
the  imperial  academy  of  sciences  at  St.  Petersburg,  was,  at' 
that  tini.e,  under  the  protection  of  these  regiments,  surveying 
the  route  for  a  canal  between  the  Don  and  the  Volga.  Pu- 
gatshef ordered  his  dragoons  to  thrust  their  pikes  into  the 
unfortunate  man,  and  i-aise  him  upon  them  into  the  air,  "  in 
order,"  said  he,  "  that  he  may  be  nearer  the  stars."  They 
did  this,  and  then  cut  him  to  pieces  with  their  sabers. 

The  troops  of  Catharine  pursued  the  rebels,  encountered 
them  in  some  intricate  passes  of  the  mountains,  whence  es- 
cape was  impossible,  and  overwhelmed  them  with  destruction. 
Their  vigorous  leader,  leaping  from  crag  to  crag,  escaped, 
sunrn  the  Volga,  crossed,  in  solitude,  vast  deserts,  and  made 
new  attempts  to  rally  partisans  around  him.  But  his  last 
hour  was  sounded.  Deserted  by  all,  he  was  wandering  from 
place  to  place,  pursued  like  a  wild  beast,  when  some  of  liis  own 
confederates,  basely  betraying  him,  seized  him,  after  a  violent 
struggle,  i)ut  him  in  irons,  and  delivered  him  to  one  of  the 
officers  of  the  Russian  army.  The  wretched  man,  preserving 
impenetrable  silence,  was  conveyed  to  Moscow  in  an  iron 
c.ige.     Refusing  to  eat,  tbod  was  forced  down  his  stomach. 


K  E  1  G  N      OF      C  A  T  U  A  It  I  N  E      II.  429 

The  empress  iiuniediately  uj)poiiited  a  coinmission  for  the 
trial  of  the  rebel.  She  instructed  the  court  to  be  satisfied 
with  whatever  vohuitary  confession  of  his  crime  he  niiglit 
make,  forbidding  them  to  apply  the  torture,  or  to  require 
him  to  name  his  accomplices.  The  culprit  was  sentenced  to 
have  his  hands  and  feet  cnt  off,  and  then  to  be  quartered. 
By  order  of  the  empress,  howevei',  he  was  first  beheaded. 
Eight  of  his  accomplices  were  also  executed,  eighteen  under- 
went the  knout,  and  were  then  exiled  to  Siberia.  Tiius  ter- 
minated a  rebellion  which  cost  the  lives  of  more  than  a  hun- 
dred thousand  men. 

Over  those  wide  regions,  whose  exact  boundaries  are  even 
now  scarcely  known,  numerous  nations  are  scattered,  quite 
distinct  in  language,  religion  and  customs,  and  so  se})arated 
by  almost  impassable  deserts,  that  they  know  but  little  of  each 
other.  These  wilds,  peopled  by  war-loving  races,  afford  the 
most  attractive  field  for  military  adventures.  The  energy  and 
sagacity  with  which  Catharine  crushed  this  formidable  rebel- 
lion added  greatly  to  her  renown.  Tranquillity  being  restored, 
the  empress,  in  order  to  crown  a  general  pardon,  forbade  any 
further  allusion  whatever  to  be  made  to  the  rebellion,  consign- 
ing all  its  painful  events  to  utter  oblivion.  She  even  forbade 
the  publication  of  the  details  of  the  trial,  saying, 

"  I  shall  keep  the  depositions  of  Pugatshef  secret,  that 
they  may  not  aggravate  the  disgrace  of  those  who  spun-ed 
liim  on." 

The  empress  was  ambitious  to  make  her  infiuence  felt  in 
every  European  movement,  and  she  was  conscious  that,  in 
order  to  command  the  respect  of  other  courts,  she  must 
ever  have  a  formidable  army  at  hei-  disposal.  In  all  the; 
great  movements  of  kings  and  courts  this  wonderful  woman 
performed  her  jjart  with  dignity  which  no  monarcli,  male 
or  female,  has  e\er  surj)assed.  It  is  sti-angc;  that  it  has 
taken  so  many  centuries  i'nv  the  nations  to  leain  that  peace, 
not  war,  enriches  realms.      Had  Russia  abstained  from  those 


430  THE      E  M  P  I  R  K      OF      RUSSIA. 

wars  ill  wliich  she  lifis  unnt'cessarily  engnged,  she  might 
now  liave  been  the  most  wealtliy  and  powerful  natioii  on 
the  globe.  Admitting  that  there  liave  been  many  wars 
which,  involving  lier  national  existence,  she  could  not 
have  avoided,  still  she  has  squandered  countless  millions  ot" 
money  and  of  lives  in  battles  which  were  quite  unnecessary. 
Russia,  like  the  United  States,  is  safe  from  all  attacks  irom 
without.  Had  Russia  employed  tlie  yearly  earnings  of  the 
empire  in  cultivating  the  lields,  rearing  towns,  and  in  extend- 
ing the  arts  of  industry  and  refinement,  inlinitely  more  would 
have  been  accomplislu'd  for  her  hrq^piness  and  renown  tlian  by 
the  most  bi-illiant  conquests.  But  Catharine,  in  lier  liigh  am- 
bition, seemed  to  be  afraid  that  Europe  might  forget  hei-,  and 
she  was  eager  to  have  her  voice  heard  in  the  deliberations  of 
every  cabinet,  and  to  have  her  banners  unfurled  in  the  march 
of  every  army. 

There  was  an  oflico,  in  the  couit  of  the  empress,  sanctioned 
by  time  in  Russia,  which  has  not  existed  in  any  otlier  court  iu 
Europe.  It  perhaps  originated  from  the  fact  that  for  about 
three  fourths  of  a  century  Russia  Avas  almost  exclusively  gov- 
erned l)y  women.  The  court  favorite  was  not  merely  the 
pi-ime  minister,  but  the  confidential  friend  and  companion  of 
tiie  empress.  On  the  day  of  his  installation  he  received  a  purse 
contaiiiing  one  hundred  thousand  dollars,  and  a  salary  of 
twelve  thousand  dollars  a  month.  A  marshal  was  also  com- 
missioned to  provide  him  a  table  of  twenty-foui-  covers,  and 
to  defray  all  the  expenses  of  his  household.  Tiie  twelve  thou- 
sand dollars  a  month  were  for  what  the  ladies  call  7?«2  laoney. 
The  fivorite  occujjied  in  the  palace  an  apartment  beneath  that 
of  the  empress,  to  which  it  communicated  by  a  private  stair- 
case. He  attended  tlie  empress  on  all  parties  of  amusement, 
at  the  opera,  the  theater,  balls,  promenades  and  excursions  of 
pleasure,  and  he  was  not  allowed  to  leave  the  palace  without 
express  2:>ermission.  It  was  also  mulcrstood  that  he  should 
pay  no  attention  to  any  lady  but  the  empress. 


KEIGN      OF      CATIIAllIXE     II.  431 

The  year  17T5  tlawned  upon  Russia  with  peace  at  hoinc; 
and  abroad.  Catliarine  d(.'Voted  herself  anew  to  the  improve- 
ment of  her  subjects  in  education  and  all  physical  comforts. 
Prince  Gregory  Orlof  had  been  for  many  years  the  favorite 
of  the  empress,  but  he  was  now  laid  aside,  and  Count  Potem- 
kin  Icok  his  i)lace. 

Catharine  now  divided  her  extensive  realms  into  forty- 
three  great  provinces,  over  each  of  which  a  governor  w;is 
appointed.  These  provinces  embraced  from  six  to  eight  hun- 
dred thousand  inhabitants.  There  was  then  a  subdivision  into 
districts  or  circles,  as  they  were  called.  Thei'e  were  some  ten 
of  these  districts  in  each  province,  and  they  contained  from 
forty  to  sixty  thousand  inhabitants.  An  entire  system  of 
government  was  established  for  each  province,  with  its  laws 
and  tribunals,  that  provision  might  be  made  for  every  thing  es- 
sential to  the  improvement  and  embellishment  of  the  country. 
The  governors  of  these  provinces  were  invested  with  great 
dignity  and  splendor.  The  gubernatorial  courts,  if  they  may 
so  be  called,  established  centers  of  elegance  and  refinement, 
which  it  was  hoped  would  exert  a  powerful  influence  in  polish- 
ing a  jteople  exceedingly  rude  and  uncultivated.  There  were 
also  immensi'  advantages  derived  from  tlie  uniform  adminis- 
tration of  justice  thus  established.  This  new  division  of  the 
empire  was  the  most  comprehensive  reform  Russia  had  yet 
experienced.  Thus  the  most  extensive  empire  on  the  globe, 
with  its  geographical  divisions  so  vast  and  dissimilar,  was 
cemented  into  one  homogeneous  body  politic. 

Until  this  great  refoini  the  iidiabitants  of  the  most  distant 
provinces  had  been  compelled  to  travel  to  Petersburg  and 
Moscow  in  tlieir  appeals  to  the  tiibunals  of  justice.  Now 
there  were  superior  courts  in  all  the  provinces,  and  inferior 
courts  in  all  the  districts.  In  all  important  cases  there  was 
an  appeal  to  the  council  of  the  empress.  Russian  ships,  laden 
with  the  luxuries  of  the  Mediterranean,  passed  through  the 
Dardanelles   and    the   Bosjjorus,   and    landed    their   ])recious 


432  THE     K  M  P  I  li  E      OF      K  U  S  S  1  A  . 

freights  upon  the  shores  of  Azof,  from  whence  they  were  trans- 
ported into  the  heart  of  Russia,  thus  opening  a  very  hicralive 
commerce. 

Tlie  PoUsli  nobles,  a  very  turbulent  and  intractable  race 
of  men,  were  overawed  by  the  power  of  Catharine,  and  tlie 
masses  of  the  Polish  people  wei'e  doubtless  benefited  by  their 
transference  to  new  masters.  Russia  was  far  more  benignant 
in  its  treatment  of  the  conquered  jjrovinces,  tlian  were  lier 
banditti  accomplices,  Prussia  and  Austria. 

The  road  to  China,  traversed  by  caravans,  was  long  and 
perilous,  through  pathless  and  inliospitable  wilds,  where,  for 
leagues,  no  inhabitant  could  be  seen,  and  yet  where  a  fertile 
soil  and  a  genial  clime  promised,  to  the  hand  of  industry,  all 
tlie  comforts  and  luxuries  of  life.  All  along  this  road  she 
planted  villages,  and,  by  the  most  alluring  offers,  induced 
settlers  to  establish  themselves  on  all  jjortions  of  the  route. 
Large  sums  of  money  were  expended  in  rendering  the  rivers 
navigable. 

In  the  year  1776,  the  grand  duchess,  consort  of  Paul,  who 
was  heir  to  the  throne,  died  in  childbirth,  and  was  buried  in 
the  same  grave  with  her  babe.  About  the  same  time  Prince 
Henry  of  Prussia  visited  the  Russian  court  to  confer  with 
Catharine  upon  some  difficulties  which  had  arisen  in  the  de- 
marcations of  Poland.  It  will  be  remembered  that  in  the 
division  which  had  now  taken  place,  the  whole  kingdom  had 
not  been  seized,  but  a  remnant  had  been  left  as  the  humble 
patrimony  of  Poniatowski,  the  king.  In  this  interview  with 
the  empress.  Prince  Henry  said, 

"  Madam,  I  see  one  sure  method  of  obviating  all  difficulty. 
It  may  perhaps  be  displeasing  to  you  on  account  of  Ponia- 
towski.* But  you  will  nevertheless  do  well  to  give  it  your  ap- 
probation, since  compensations  may  be  offered  to  that  monarch 
of  greater  value  to  him  than  the  throne  which  is  continually 

*  Poniatowski  bad  been  formerly  a  favorite  of  the  empress. 


REIGN      UF     CATIIAKIXE     II.  4;33 

tottering  under  him.     The  remainder  of  Poland  must  be  par- 
titioned." 

The  erajjress  cordially  embraced  the  plan,  and  the  annilii- 
lation  of  Poland  Avas  decreed.  It  was  necessary  to  move 
slowly  and  with  caution  in  the  execution  of  the  plan.  In  tlu^ 
meantime,  as  the  grand  duchess  had  died,  leaving  no  heir  to 
the  empire,  the  empress  deemed  it  a  matter  of  the  utniost 
moment  to  secure  another  wife  for  the  Grand  Duke  Paul,  lest 
Russia  should  be  exposed  to  the  perils  of  a  disputed  succes- 
sion. Xatalia  was  hardly  cold  in  lier  grave  ere  the  empress 
proposed  to  Prince  Henry,  that  his  niece,  the  princess  of  Wir- 
temberg,  should  become  the  spouse  of  the  grand  duke.  The 
princess  was  already  betrothed  to  the  hereditary  prince  of 
Hesse  Darmstadt,  but  both  Henry  and  his  imperial  brother, 
Frederic  of  Prussia,  deemed  the  marriage  of  their  niece  with 
the  prospective  Emperor  of  Russia  a  match  far  too  brilliant 
to  be  thwarted  by  so  slight  an  obstacle.  Frederic  himself  in- 
formed the  prince  of  the  exalted  offer  which  had  been  made 
to  his  betrotlied,  and  without  much  difficulty  secured  his  re- 
linquishment of  his  contemplated  bride.  Fi"ederic  deemed  it 
a  matter  of  iiitinite  moment  that  the  ties  subsisting  between 
Russia  and  Prussia  should  be  more  closely  drawn.  He  wrote 
to  his  brother  Henry  of  his  success,  and  by  the  same  courier 
invited  the  Grand  Duke  Paul  to  visit  ]>erlin  that  he  might  see 
the  new  spouse  designed  for  him.  He  ;dso  expressed  his  own 
ardent  desire  to  become  acquainted  with  the  grand  duke. 

Catharine,  highly  gratified  with  this  success,  placed  a  purse 
of  fifty  thousand  dollars  in  the  hands  of  her  son  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  his  jomney.  It  was  at  the  close  of  the  summer 
of  1776  when  the  grand  duke  left  the  palaces  of  St.  Peters- 
burg to  visit  those  of  Berlin.  His  mother,  who  made  all  the 
arrangements,  dispatched  lier  son  on  this  visit  in  a  style  of 
regal  splendor.  Wlien  the  party  reached  Riga,  a  courier 
overtook  them  with  the  following  characteristic  letter,  writ- 
ten by  the  empress's  own  hand  to  Prince  Henry: 

19 


434  THE      EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

"June  11,  1776. 

"I  take  the  liberty  of  transmitting  to  your  royal  highness 
the  four  letters  of  which  I  spoke  to  you,  and  which  you  prom- 
ised to  take  care  of.  Tlie  first  is  for  the  king,  your  brother, 
and  the  others  for  the  prince  and  princesses  of  Wirtemberg. 
I  venture  to  pray  you,  that  if  my  son  should  bestow  his  heart 
on  the  l*rincess  8o])lua,  as  I  have  no  doubt  but  what  he  will, 
to  deliver  the  three  letters  according  to  their  directions,  and 
to  support  the  contents  of  them  with  that  persuasive  elo- 
quence with  which  God  has-endowed  you. 

"The  convincing  and  reiterated  proofs  which  you  have 
given  me  of  your  friendship,  the  high  esteem  which  I  have 
conceived  for  your  virtues,  and  the  extent  of  the  confidence 
which  you  have  taught  me  to  repose  in  you,  leave  me  no 
doubt  on  the  success  of  a  business  which  I  have  so  much  at 
heart.     Was  it  possible  for  me  to  place  it  in  better  hands  ? 

"  Your  royal  highness  is  surely  an  unique  in  the  art  of 
negotiation.  Pardon  me  that  expression  of  my  friendship. 
But  I  think  that  there  has  never  been  an  aftair  of  this  nature 
transacted  as  this  is  ;  which  is  the  production  of  the  most  in- 
timate friendsliip  and  confidence. 

"That  princess  will  be  the  pledge  of  it.  I  shall  not  be 
able  to  see  her  without  recollecting  in  what  manner  this 
business  was  begun,  continued  and  terminated,  between  the 
royal  house  of  Prussia  and  that  of  Russia.  May  it  perpetu- 
ate the  connections  wliich  unite  us  ! 

"I  conclude  by  very  tenderly  tlianking  your  royal  highness 
for  all  the  cares  and  all  the  troubles  you  iiave  given  yourself; 
and  I  beseech  you  to  be  assured  that  my  gratitude,  my  friend- 
ship, my  esteem,  and  the  high  consideration  which  I  have  for 
you,  will  termhiate  only  with  my  life. 

"  Catharine." 

The  Grand  Duke  Paul  was  received  in  Berlin  with  all  the 
honors  due  his  rank  as  heir  to  the  imperial  throne  of  Russia. 
The  great  Frederic  even  came  to  the  door  of  his   apartment 


KEIGX      OF      CATHARINE      II.  435 

to  greet  bis  guest.  The  grand  duke  was  escorted  into  tlie 
city  with  much  pomp.  Thirty-four  trumpeters,  winding  their 
bugles,  preceded  him,  all  in  rich  uuitbrm.  Then  came  a 
strong  array  of  soldiers.  These  were  followed  by  a  civic 
procession,  in  brilliant  decorations.  Three  superb  state 
coaches,  containing  the  dignitaries  of  Berlin,  came  next  in 
the  train,  followed  by  a  detachment  of  the  life-guards,  who 
preceded  the  magnificent  chariot  of  the  duke,  which  chariot 
was  regarded  as  the  most  superb  which  had  then  ever  been 
seen,  and  which  was  drawn  by  eight  of  the  finest  horses 
Prussia  could  produce.  This  carriage  conveyed  Paul  and 
Prince  Henry.  A  hundred  dragoons,  as  a  guard  of  honor, 
closed  the  procession.  At  the  gates  of  the  city  the  magis- 
tracy received  Paul  beneath  a  triumphal  arch,  where  seventy 
beautiful  girls,  dressed  like  nymphs  and  shepherdesses,  pre- 
sented the  grand  duke  with  complimentary  verses,  and 
crowned  him  with  a  garland  of  flowers.  The  ringing  of  bells, 
the  pealing  of  cannon,  strains  of  martial  music,  and  the  ac- 
clamations of  the  multitude,  greeted  Paul  from  the  time  he 
entered  the  gates  until  he  reached  the  royal  palace. 

"  Sire,"  exclaimed  Paul,  as  he  took  the  hand  of  the  King 
of  Prussia,  "the  motives  which  brii:g  me  from  the  extremities 
of  the  Xorth  to  these  happy  dominions,  are  the  desire  of  as- 
suring youi-  majesty  of  the  friendship  and  alliance  to  subsist 
henceforth  and  ibr  ever  between  Russia  and  Prussia,  and  the 
ea<'-erness  to  see  a  princess  destined  to  ascend  the  throne  of 
the  Russian  empire.  By  my  receiving  her  at  your  hands,  I 
assure  you  that  she  will  be  more  dear  to  myself  and  to  the 
nation  over  which  she  is  to  reign.  It  has  also  been  one  of  the 
most  ardent  aspirations  of  my  soul  to  contemplate  the  great- 
est of  heroes,  the  admiration  of  our  age  and  the  astonishment 
of  posterity." 

Here  the  king  interrupted  him,  replying, 

"  Instead  of  which,  you  behold  a  lioary-headed  valitudina- 
rian,  who  could  never  have  wished  for  a  superior  happiness 


436  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

tlian  that  of  welcoming  within  these  walls  the  hopeful  heir  of 
a  mighty  empire,  the  only  son  of  my  best  friend,  Catharine." 

After  half  an  hour's  conversation,  the  grand  duke  was  led 
into  the  apartment  of  the  queen,  where  the  court  was  assem- 
bled. Here  he  was  introduced  to  his  contemplated  bride, 
Sophia,  Princess  of  Wirtemberg,  and  immediately,  in  the 
name  of  the  Empress  of  Russia,  demanded  her  in  marriage 
of  the  grand  duke.  The  marriage  contract  was  signed  the 
same  day.  The  whole  company  then  supi)ed  with  the  queen 
in  great  magnificence.  Feasts  and  entertainments  succeeded 
for  many  days  without  interruption. 

On  the  3d  of  August,  Paul  returned  to  St.  Petersburg, 
where  his  affianced  bride  soon  joined  him.  As  he  took  leave, 
the  King  of  Prussia  presented  him  with  dessert  service  and  a 
coffee  service,  with  ten  porcelain  vases  of  Berlin  manufacture, 
a  ring,  containing  the  king's  portrait,  surmounted  with  a  dia- 
mond valued  at  thirty  thousand  crowns,  and  also  a  stud  of 
Prussian  horses  and  four  pieces  of  rich  tapestry.  Upon  the 
arrival  of  the  princess,  she  was  received  into  the  Greek 
church,  assuming  the  name  of  Maria,  by  which  she  was  ever 
after  called.  The  marriage  soon  took  place,  and  from  this 
marriage  arose  the  two  distinguished  empei'ors,  Alexander 
and  Xicholas. 

The  empress  was  exceedingly  gratified  by  the  successful 
accomplishment  of  this  plan.  With  energy  which  seemed 
never  to  tire,  she  urged  forw^ard  her  plans  for  national  im- 
provements, establishing  schools  all  over  the  empire,  wliicli 
were  munificently  supported  at  the  imperial  expense.  The 
splendor  of  the  Russian  court,  during  the  reign  of  Catharine, 
surpassed  all  ordinary  powers^of  description.  Almost  bound- 
less wealth  was  lavished  upon'  gorgeous  dresses — lords  and 
ladies  glittering  alike  in  most  costly  jewelry.  Many  cour 
tiers  appeared  almost  literally  covered  with  diamonds.  They 
sparkled,  in  most  lavish  profusion,  upon  their  l)uttons,  their 
buckles,  the  scabbards  of  their  swords,  their  epaulets,  and 


K  E  I  G  N      OF      C  A  T  H  A  K  I  N  E      II.  437 

many  even  uoie  a  trii:)le  row  as  a  band  around  the  hat. 
Frequently  eight  thousand  tickets  were  given  out  for  a  ball 
at  the  palace,  and  yet  there  was  no  crowd,  for  twenty  saloons, 
of  magnitieent  dimensions,  brilliantly  lighted,  afforded  room 
for  all.  Her  majesty  usually  entered  the  saloons  about  seven 
o'clock,  and  retired  about  ten. 

The  empress  never  ceased  to  look  with  a  wistful  eye  upon 
the  regions  which  the  Turks  had  wrested  from  the  Christians, 
The  commercial  greatness  of  Russia,  in  her  view,  imperiously 
required  that,  Constantinople  and  its  adjacent  shores  should 
be  in  hor  possession.  In  May,  IVSO,  Catharine  had  au  inter- 
view with  Joseph  II.,  Emperor  of  Germany,  at  Mohilef.  Both 
sovereigns  traveled  with  great  pomp  to  meet  at  this  ]jlace. 
After  several  contidential  interviews,  they  agreed  to  unite 
their  forces  to  drive  the  Turks  out  of  Europe,  and  to  share 
the  spoil  between  them.  It  w^as  also  agreed  to  reestablish 
the  ancient  republics  of  Greece.  The  emperor,  Joseph  II., 
received  an  earnest  invitation  to  visit  Moscow,  which  he  ac- 
cepted, but,  with  characteristic  eccentricity,  refused  to  travel 
with  the  queen,  as  he  was  excessively  annoyed  by  the  tram- 
mels of  etiquette  and  ceremonial  pomp.  The  empress,  conse- 
quently, returned  to  St.  Petersburg,  and  Joseph  II.  set  out 
for  Moscow  in  the  following  fashion  : 

Leaving  his  carriages  with  his  suite  to  follow,  he  2)ro- 
ceeded  alone,  incognito^  on  horse-back,  as  the  avant  courier. 
At  each  station  he  would  announce  that  his  master  the  em- 
peror, with  the  impeiial  carriages,  was  coming  on,  and  that 
dinner,  supj)er  or  lodgings  must  be  provided  for  so  many 
persons.  Calling  for  a  slice  of  ham  and  a  cup  of  beer,  he 
wouM  throw  himself  upon  a  bench  for  a  few  hours'  lepose, 
constantly  refusing  to  take  a  bed,  as  the  expedition  he  must 
make  would  not  allow  this  indulgence. 

At  Mohilef,  the  empress  had  provided  magnificent  apart- 
ments, in  the  palace,  for  the  emperor  ;  but  he  insisted  upon 
taking  lodgings  at  an  ordinaiy  inn.     At  St.  Petersburg,  not- 


438  THE     E  M  P  I  K  E      OF      11  U  S  S  I  A  , 

withstanding  the  emperor's  repugnance  to  pomp,  Catharine 
received  him  with  entertainments  of  tlie  greatest  niagnilicence. 
Joseph,  however,  took  out  little  interest  in  such  displays, 
devoting  his  attention  almost  exclusively  to  useful  establish- 
ments and  monuments  of  art.  He  was  surprised  to  find  at 
Tula,  manufactories  of  hardware  unsurpassed  by  those  of 
Sheffield  and  Birmingham.  He  expressed  his  surprise,  on  his 
return  home,  at  the  mixture  of  refinement  and  barbarism 
Russia  had  presented  to  his  view. 

The  empress,  seeing  that  so  many  princes  visited  foreign 
countries,  decided  to  send  her  son  Paul,  with  Maria,  to  make 
the  tour  of  Europe.  Obedient  to  the  maternal  commands, 
they  commenced  their  travels  through  Poland  and  Austria  to 
Italy,  and  retui-ned  to  St.  Petersburg,  through  France  and 
Holland,  after  an  absence  of  fourteen  months.  The  empress 
liad  a  confidential  agent  in  their  company,  who  kept  her  in- 
formed, minutely,  of  every  event  which  transpired.  A  cour- 
ier was  dispatched  every  day  to  inforui  her  where  they  were 
and  how  they  were  employed. 

The  relations  between  Turkey  and  Russia  were  contin- 
ually growing  more  threatening.  Turkey  had  been  compelled 
to  yield  the  Crimea,  and  also  to  surrender  the  navigation  of 
the  Euxine,  with  the  Bosporus  and  the  Dardanelles,  to  her 
jjowerful  rival.  Galled  by  these  concessions,  which  had  been 
forced  upon  her  by  bullet  and  bayonet,  the  Ottoman  Porte 
was  ever  watching  to  regain  her  lost  power.  Russia,  instead 
of  being  satisfied  with  her  acquisitions,  was  eagerly  grasping 
at  more.  The  Greek  Christians  also,  throughout  the  Turkish 
empire,  hating  their  Mussulman  oj)pressors,  were  ever  watch- 
ing fur  opportunities  when  they  could  shake  oft'  the  burden 
and  the  insult  of  slavery.  Thus  peace  between  Russia  and 
Tuikey  was  nevei-  more  than  an  armistice.  The  two  powers 
constantly  laced  each  other  in  a  hostile  attitude,  ever  ready 
to  appeal  to  arms. 


CHAPTER    XXVII. 

TERMINATION   OF   THE   REIGN   OF   CATHARINE   II. 

From  IVSI  to  1786. 

Statue  of  Peter  the  Great. — Alliance  between  Austria  and  Russia. — Independ- 
ence OF  the  Crijiea. — The  Khan  of  the  Crimea. — Vast  Pbepauations  for  War. 
— National  Jealousies. — ^Tolerant  Spirit  of  Catiiakink. — Magnificent  Excur- 
sion TO  the  Cri.mea. — Commencement  ok  Hostilities. — Anecdote  of  Paul  — 
Peace.— New  Partition  of  Poland. — Treaty  with  Austria  and  Fp.ance. — Hos- 
tility TO  Liberty  in  France. — Death  op  Catharine. — Her  Character. 

/CATHARINE  luund  time,  amidst  all  the  cares  of  empire, 
^  to  devote  special  attention  to  the  education  oflu'i-  grand- 
children Alexander  and  Constantine,  who  had  hei-n  born  dur- 
ing the  five  yeais  w  Inch  had  now  elapsed  since  the  marriage 
of  Paul  and  Maria.  For  their  instruction  as  they  advanced 
in  years,  she  wrote  several  liistorical  and  nioial  essays  of  no 
small  merit.  The  "Tales  of  Chlor,  Son  of  the  Tzar,"  and 
"The  Little  Saraoyede,"  are  beautiful  compositions  fn^n 
her  pen,  alike  attractive  to  the  mature  and  the  youthful  mind. 
The  histories  and  essays  she  wrote  for  these  children  liave 
since  been  collected  and  printed  in  French,  under  the  title  of 
"  Bibliotheque  des  grands-ducs  Alexandre  et  Constantin." 

The  einpres.s,  about  this  time,  resolved  to  erect,  in  St. 
Petersburg,  a  statue  of  Peter  the  Great,  which  should  be 
worthy  of  his  renown.  A  French  artist,  M.  Falconet,  waa 
engaged  to  execute  this  inii)ortant  work.  lie  conceived  the 
design  of  havijig,  for  a  ]»e<lcstal,  a  rugged  rock,  to  indicate 
the  rude  and  uni)olislied  character  of  the  people  to  whom 
tlie  emperor  had  introduced  so  many  of  the  arts  of  civiliza- 
tion.    Immediate  search  was  made  to  find  a  suitable  rock. 


440  THE      EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

About  eight  miles  from  the  city  a  huge  boulder  was  dis- 
covered, forty-two  feet  long,  thirty-four  feet  broad,  and 
twenty-one  feet  high.  It  was  found,  by  geometric  calcula- 
tion, that  this  enormous  mass  weighed  three  millions  two 
hundred  thousand  pounds.  It  was  necessary  to  transport 
it  over  heights  and  across  morasses  to  the  Neva,  and  there 
to  float  it  down  to  the  place  of  its  destination.  The  boulder 
lay  imbedded  a  few  feet  in  the  ground,  absolutely  detached 
from  all  other  rock,  and  Avith  no  similar  substance  anywhere 
in  the  vicinity. 

It  would  seem  impossible  that  a  mass  so  stupendous  could 
be  moved.  But  difficulties  only  roused  the  energies  of  Cath- 
arine. In  the  first  place,  a  solid  road  was  made  for  its  pas- 
sage. After  four  months'  labor,  with  very  ingenious  machinery, 
the  rock  was  so  far  raised  as  to  enable  them  to  slip  under  it 
heavy  plati'S  of  brass,  winch  rested  upon  cannon  balls  tive 
inches  in  diameter,  and  whicli  balls  ran  in  grooves  of  solid 
metal.  Then,  by  windlasses,  worked  by  four  hundred  men, 
it  was  slowly  foi'ced  along  its  way.  Having  arrived  at  the 
Neva,  is  was  floated  down  the  river  by  what  are  called 
camels,  that  is  immense  floating  fabrics  constructed  with  air 
chambers  so  as  to  render  them  very  buoyant. 

This  statue  as  completed  is  regarded  as  one  of  the  grand- 
est ever  executed.  The  tzar  is  represented  as  on  horseback, 
ascending  a  steep  rock,  the  summit  of  which  he  is  resolved  to 
attain.  In  an  Asiatic  dress  and  crowned  with  laurel,  he  is 
pointing  forward  with  his  right  hand,  while  with  his  left  lie 
holds  the  bridle  of  the  magnificent  charger  on  which  he  is 
mounted."  The  horse  stands  on  his  hind  feet  bounding  for- 
ward, trampling  beneath  a  brnzen  serpent,  emblematic  of  the 
opposition  the  monaich  encountei'ed  and  overcame.  It  bears 
the  simple  inscription,  "To  Peter  the  First,  by  Catharine  the 
Second,  1'782."  The  whole  expense  of  the  statue  amounted  to 
over  four  hundred  thousand  dollars,  an  immense  sum  for  that 
day,  when  a  dollar  was  worth  more  than  many  doUars  now. 


T  E  R  Jl  1  >■  A  T  1  O  >■     OF     C  A  T  U  A  R  I  ^-  K  '  S     REIGN.       441 

At  the  close  of  the  year  1VS2,  tlie  Emperor  of  Geimany 
and  Catliariiie  II.  entered  into  an  alliance  for  the  mure  ener- 
getic prosecntion  of  the  war  against  the  Tnrks.  Tliey  issued 
very  spirited  proclamations  eniunerating  their  grievances,  and 
immediately  a])peared  on  the  Turkish  Iruntiers  with  vast  ar- 
mies. The  attention  of  Catharine  was  constantly  directed  to- 
wards Constantinople,  the  accpiisition  of  which  city,  with  tlie 
Bosporus  and  the  Dardanelles,  was  the  object  which,  of  all 
others,  was  the  nearest  to  her  heart.  On  the  banks  of  the 
Dnieper,  eighteen  hundred  miles  troni  St.  Petersburg,  she  laid 
the  tbundations  of  Kherson  as  a  maritime  port,  and  in  an 
almost  incredibly  short  time  a  city  rose  there  containing  forty 
thousand  inhabitants.  From  its  ship-yards  vessels  of  war  were 
launched  which  struck  terror  into  the  Ottoman  empire. 

By  previous  wars,  it  will  be  remembered,  the  Crimea  had 
been  wrested  from  the  Turks  and  declared  to  be  independent, 
remaining  nominally  in  the  liands  of  the  Tartars.  Catharine 
II.  immediately  took  the  Tartar  khan  of  the  Crimea  under  her 
special  protection,  loaded  him  with  favors,  and  thus  assumed 
the  guidance  of  his  movements.  He  became  enervated  by 
luxury,  learned  to  despise  the  rude  manners  of  his  country- 
men, engaged  a  Russian  cook,  and  was  served  from  silver 
plate.  Instead  of  riding  on  horseback  he  traveled  in  a  splen- 
did chariot,  and  even  solicited  a  commission  in  the  Russian 
army.  Catharine  contrived  to  foment  a  revolt  against  her 
protege  the  klian,  and  then,  very  kindly,  marched  an  army 
into  the  Crimea  fbi- his  relief.  She  then,  without  any  apology, 
took  possession  of  the  whole  of  the  Crimea,  and  received  the 
oath  of  allegiance  from  all  the  officei-s  of  the  govei-nment 
Indeed,  there  appeai-s  to  have  been  no  opposition  to  this  meas- 
ure. The  Tartar  khan  yielded  with  so  nnich  docility  that  lie 
soon  issued  a  manifesto  in  which  he  abtlicated  liis  throne,  ami 
transferred  the  whole  dominion  of  his  country  to  Catharine. 
Turkey,  exasperated,  ])repared  herself  fuiiously  for  war.  Rus- 
sia formed  an  alliance  with  the  Emperor  of  Germany,  and 

19* 


442  THE     E  il  P  I  R  E      OF     RUSSIA. 

armies  were  soon  in  movement  upon  a  scale  such  as  evt-n  those 
war-scathed  regions  had  never  witnessed  before,  Tlie  Diin- 
ube,  throughout  its  whole  course,  was  burdened  with  tlie 
barges  ot"  the  Emperor  of  Germany,  heavily  laden  with  ailil- 
lery,  military  stores  and  troops.  More  than  a  hundred  thou- 
sand men  were  marched  d(nvu  to  the  theater  of  conflict  from 
Hungaiy.  Fifteen  hundred  })ieces  of  artillery  were  in  the 
train  of  these  vast  armies  of  the  German  emperor.  The  Rus- 
sian force  was  ecpially  efficient,  as  it  directed  its  march  through 
the  plains  of  Poland,  and  floated  down  upon  the  waters  of  the 
Don  and  the  Dniejicr.  The  Turkish  sultan  was  not  wanting 
iu  energy.  From  all  his  wide-spread  domains  in  Europe  and 
Asia,  he  marshaled  his  hosts,  and  engaged  from  other  nations 
of  Euro})e,  and  particular!}'  Iroiu  France,  the  most  skillful  offi- 
cers and  engineers,  to  introduce  into  his  armies  European  dis- 
cipline and  improvements  m  weapons  of  war. 

The  Ottoman  Porte  issued  a  manifesto,  which  was  a  very 
remarkable  document  both  in  vigor  of  style  and  nobility  of 
sentiment.  After  severely  denouncing  the  enormous  encroach- 
ments of  Russia,  extending  her  dominions  unscrupulously  in 
every  direction,  the  sultan  asked  indignantly, 

"•  What  right  can  Russia  have  to  territories  annexed  for 
ages  to  the  dominions  of  the  Porte  ?  Should  the  Porte  make 
such  claims  on  any  portion  of  the  Russian  dominions,  would 
they  not  be  repulsed  ?  And  can  it  be  presumed  that  the 
Sublime  Porte,  however  desirous  of  peace,  will  acquiesce  in 
wrong  which,  however  it  niiiy  be  disguised,  reason  and  equity 
must  deem  absolute  usurpation  V  What  northern  power  has 
the  Porte  otiended  V  Wiiose  territories  have  the  Ottoman 
troops  invaded  V  In  the  country  of  what  i)rince  is  the  Turkish 
standard  displayed  ?  Content  with  the  boundaries  of  empire 
assigned  by  God  and  the  Prophet,  the  wishes  of  the  PorLe  are 
for  ])eace  ;  but  it  tiie  court  of  Russia  be  determined  in  her 
claim,  and  will  n(;t  recede  without  the  acquisition  of  territories 
which  do  not  belong  to  her,  the  Sublime  Porte,  appealing  to 


TERMINATION     OF     C  A  T  II  A  K  I  N  E  '  S     K  E  I  G  N  .       443 

llie  woild  lor  the  justice  of  its  proceedings,  must  pre](;ire  lor 
war,  relying  on  the  decrees  of  Heaven,  antl  confident  in  tlie 
interposition  of  tlie  Prophet  of  i)roj)hets,  that  he  will  protect 
his  faithful  followers  in  the  hour  of  every  difficulty." 

Ko  Mohammedan  pen  could  have  produced  so  vigorous  a 
document.  It  was  written  by  the  English  minister  at  Cou- 
stautinople,  Sir  Robert  Ainslie.  Catharine  II.,  apprehensive 
that,  while  all  her  armies  were  engaged  on  the  banks  of  the 
Euxine,  Sweden  might  attack  her  oil  the  shores  of  the  Baltic, 
decided  to  form  a  uew  treaty  of  peace  with  Gustavus  III. 
An  hiterview  was  arranged  to  take  place  at  Frederikshain,  a 
small  but  strongly  fortified  town  upon  the  Gulf  of  Finland,  the 
last  town  occupied  by  the  Russians  towards  the  frontiers  of 
Sweden.  The  empress  repaired  thither  in  a  yacht  the  '29th  of 
June,  1783.  Gustavus  III.,  with  his  suite,  met  her  at  the  ap- 
pointed houi".  Two  contiguous  houses  were  prepared,  furnished 
with  the  utmost  splendor,  and  connected  by  a  gallery,  so  that, 
durhig  the  four  days  these  sove.eigns  remained  at  Frederiks- 
liam,  they  coukl  meet  and  converse  at  any  time.  There  is  still 
a  picture  existing,  painted  by  order  of  Catharine,  representing 
the  empress  and  the  Swedish  monarch  in  one  of  their  most 
confidential  interviews.  Catharine  II.  promised  Gustavus  that 
if  he  would  faithfully  remain  neutral  during  her  war  witii 
Turkey  she  would,  at  its  close,  aid  Sweden  in  gaining  posses- 
sion of  Norway.  The  two  sovereigns,  having  exchanged  rich 
presents,  separated,  mutually  delighted  with  each  other. 

The  em.[)ress  had  now  seventy  thousand  men  on  the  fron- 
tiers of  the  Crimea,  and  a  reserve  of  forty  thousand  on  the 
inarch  to  strengtiien  them.  A  third  army  of  great  power  was 
rendezvoused  at  Kief.  A  large  scpiadron  of  ships  of  war  was 
ready  lor  battle  in  tiie  Sea  of  Azofj  and  another  squadron  was 
prepared  to  sail  Irom  the  Baltic  lor  the  Mediterranean.  En- 
gland, alarnieil  by  the  growth  of  itussia,  did  every  thing  in  her 
])ower  to  stimulate  the  Turks  to  action.  But  the  i\jite,  (uer- 
awed  by  tlie  force  brougiit  against  her,  notwithstanding  the 


444  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

brave  manifesto  it  had  been  induced  to  issue,  sued  for  peace. 
Yielding  to  all  the  demands  of  Russia  a  treaty  was  soon  signed. 
Catharine  gained  undisputed  possession  of  the  Crimea,  large 
portions  of  Circassia,  the  whole  of  the  Black  Sea,  and  also  the 
free  passage  of  the  Dardanelles.  Thus,  without  tiring  a  gun, 
Kussia  gained  several  thousand  square  miles  of  territory,  and 
an  addition  of  more  than  a  millioii  and  a  halt"  of  inhabitants, 
with  commercial  jjrivileges  whicli  added  greatly  to  the  wealth 
of  the  empire. 

Catharine's  fleet  now  rode  triumphantly  upon  the  Caspian, 
and  she  resolved  to  extend  her  dominions  along  the  western 
shores  of  that  inland  sea.  These  vast  regions  were  peopled 
by  warlike  tribes,  ever  engaged  in  hostilities  against  each 
other.  Slowly  but  surely  she  advanced  her  conquests  and 
reared  her  fortresses  through  those  barbaric  wilds.  At  the 
same  time  she  was  pushing  her  acquisitions  with  equal  saga- 
city and  success  along  the  shores  of  Kamtschatka.  With  great 
vigor  she  encouraged  her  commercial  caravans  to  j)enetrate 
China,  and  even  opened  relations  with  Japan,  obtiiining  from 
that  jealous  people  permission  to  send  a  trading  ship  to  their 
coast  every  year. 

No  persons  are  so  jealous  of  the  encroachments  of  others 
as  those  who  are  least  scrupulous  in  regard  to  the  encroach- 
ments which  tliey  themselves  make.  The  Euglisli  govern- 
ment, whose  boast  it  is  that  the  sun,  in  its  circuit  ol  the  globe, 
never  ceases  to  shine  on  their  domains,  watches  with  an  eagle 
eye  lest  any  other  government  on  the  globe  should  venture 
upon  tlie  most  humble  act  of  annexation.  So  it  was  with 
Catharine.  Tliougii  adding  to  her  vast  dominions  in  every 
quarter;  though  appropriating,  alike  in  peace  and  in  war,  all 
the  territory  she  could  lay  her  hands  upon,  she  could  inveigh 
against  the  inordinate  ambition  of  other  nations  with  the  most 
surprising  volubility. 

The  increasing  fame  and  power  of  Frederic  II.  l)ad  for 
some    time    disturbed    iier    equanimity,   and    she    manifested 


TEE  Jl  I  N  ATI  ON     OF     CATHARINE'S     li  E  I  U  X  .      415 

great  anxiety  lest  lie  should  be  guilty  of  the  impropriety  of 
annexing  some  petty  tlucliy  to  his  domains.  Since  ho  had 
united  with  Catharine  and  Austria  in  tlie  banditti  partition  of 
Poland,  he  had  continually  been  making  all  the  encroach- 
ments in  his  power;  adding  acres  to  his  domains  as  Catharine 
added  squa\e  leagues  to  hers.  In  precisely  the  same  spirit, 
England,  who  was  grasping  at  all  the  world,  protested,  with 
the  most  edifying  devotion  to  the  claims  of  justice  and  hu- 
manity, against  tlie  ambitious  spirit  of  Russia.  The  "  beam" 
did  not  exclude  the  vision  of  the  "  mote."  Cathraine,  offended 
by  the  opposition  of  England,  retaliated  by  entering  into  a 
treaty  of  commerce  u  ith  France,  which  deprived  England  of 
an  important  part  of  the  Russian  trade. 

The  spirit  of  toleration  manifested  by  Catharine  is  worthy 
of  all  praise.  During  the  whole  of  her  reign  she  would  not 
allow  any  one  to  be  persecuted,  in  the  slightest  degree,  on  ac- 
count of  religious  opinions.  All  the  conquered  provinces 
were  protected  in  the  free  exercise  of  their  religion.  Luther- 
ans, Calvinists,  Moravians,  Papists,  Mohammedans,  and  Pa- 
gans of  all  kinds,  not  only  enjoyed  freedom  of  opinion  and 
of  worshi}),  but  could  alike  aspire  to  any  post,  civil  or  mili- 
tary, of  which  they  could  prove  themselves  worthy.  At  one 
time,  when  urged  by  the  hateful  spirit  of  religious  bigotry  to 
frown  upon  some  heresy,  she  replied  smiling, 

"  Poor  wretches  !  since  we  know  that  tliey  are  to  suffer 
so  mucli  and  so  long  in  the  world  to  come,  it  is  but  reason- 
able that  we  should  endeavor,  by  all  means,  to  make  their 
situation  Iieie  as  comfortable  as  we  can." 

Though  Cathariiu,'  II.  had  many  great  defects  of  charac- 
ter, she  liad  many  vii  tues  which  those  who  have  denounced 
her  most  severely  might  do  well  to  imitate.  Iler  crowning 
vice,  and  the  one  which,  notwithstanding  her  virtues,  has 
consigned  her  name  to  shame,  was  that  she  had  a  constant 
succession  of  lovers  who  by  secret  and  very  informal  nuptial 
rites  were  bound  to  her  for  a  season,  each  one  of  whom  was 


446  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

exchanged  for  another  as  caprice  incited.  The  spirit  of  na- 
tional aggrandizement  whicli  influenced  Catharine,  was  a 
spirit  possessed,  to  an  equal  extent,  at  that  time,  by  e\'ery 
cabinet  in  Clui.stendoni.  It  was  the  great  motive  power  of 
the  age.  Dismembered  Poland  excites  our  synipatlij  ;  but 
Poland  was  as  eager  to  share  in  the  jjartition  of  other  States 
as  she  was  reluctant  to  submit  to  that  operation  herself  In 
personal  character  Catharine  was  humane,  tolerant,  self-deny- 
iug,  and  earnestly  devoted  to  the  welfire  of  her  empire.  Re- 
ligious teacheis,  of  all  denominations,  freely  met  at  her  table. 
This  Chiistian  libeiality,  thus  encouraged  in  the  palace,  spread 
through  the  realm,  producing  the  most  beneticial  results.  On 
the  occasion  ot'  a  celebrated  festival,  Catharine  gave  a  grand 
dinner  i)arty  to  ecclesiastics  of  all  communions  at  the  palace. 
This  entertainment  she  called  the  "  Dinner  of  Toleration." 
The  representatives  of  eight  diiferent  forms  of  worship  met 
around  this  hospitable  board. 

The  instruction  of  the  masses  of  the  people  occupied 
much  of  the  attention  of  this  extraordinary  woman.  She 
commenced  v.ith  founding  schools  in  the  large  towns;  and 
then  proceeded  to  the  establishment  of  them  in  various  parts 
of  the  country.  Many  normal  schools  were  established  for 
the  education  of  teachers.  The  emjjress  herself  attended  the 
examinations  and  questioned  the  scholars.  On  one  of  these 
occasions,  when  a  learned  German  professor  of  history  was 
giving  a  lecture  to  some  pupils,  gathered  from  the  tribes  of 
Siberia,  the  empress  proposed  an  objection  to  some  views  he 
advanced.  The  courtiers  were  shocked  at  the  learned  man's 
presumption  in  replying  to  the  objection  in  the  most  con- 
clusive manner.  The  empress,  ever  eager  in  the  acquisition 
of  knowledge,  admitted  her  mistake,  and  thanked  the  pro- 
fessor for  having  rectified  it  with  so  much  ability. 

She  purchased,  at  a  high  price,  the  libraries  of  D'Alembert, 
and  of  Voltaire,  immediately  after  the  death  of  those  illus- 
trious men.     She  also  jjurchased  the  valuable  cabinet  of  nat- 


TERMINATION     OF     CATHARINE'S     REIGN.       447 

iir.il  cMiriusilies  collectetl  by  Professor  Pallas.  The  most  ae- 
complishecl  engiueera  she  could  obtain  were  sent  to  explore 
the  mountains  ot"  Caucasus,  and  even  to  the  frontiers  ot"  China. 
"When  we  consider  the  trackless  deserts  to  be  explored,  the 
inhospitable  climes  and  barbarous  nations  to  be  encountered, 
these  were  enterprises  far  more  peiilous  than  the  circunniavi- 
gation  of  the  globe.  The  scientilic  expedition  to  China  was 
escorted  by  a  corps  of  eight  hundred  and  ten  chosen  men, 
led  by  one  hundred  and  seven  distinguished  officers.  The 
sacaits  were  provided  with  every  thing  which  could  be 
thought  of  to  promote  their  comfort  and  to  aid  them  in  their 
explorations,  and  three  years  were  alloted  as  the  probable 
term  of  service  required  by  the  mission.  At  the  same  time 
a  naval  expedition  was  fitted  out  to  explore  the  northern  seas, 
and  ascertain  the  limits  of  the  Russian  empire.  But  ti)0 
greatest  work  of  Catharine's  reign  was  the  completion  of  the 
canal  which  united  the  waters  of  the  Volga  and  tlie  Neva, 
and  thus  established  an  inland  navigation  through  all  the 
countries  which  lie  between  the  Caspian  Sea  and  the  Baltic. 

In  the  year  1786  the  em])ress  announced  her  intenthm  of 
making  a  magnificent  journey  to  the  Crimea,  in  order  to  be 
crowned  sovereign  of  her  new  conquests.  This  design  was 
to  be  executed  in  the  highest  style  of  oriental  ijoin]),  as  the 
empress  was  resolved  to  extend  her  sway  over  all  the  nations 
of  the  Tartars.  But  the  Tartars  of  those  unmeasured  realms, 
informed  of  the  contemplated  movement,  were  alarmed,  and 
immediately  combined  their  energies  for  a  determined  resist- 
ance. The  Grand  Seignior  was  also  goaded  to  the  most  des- 
perate exertions,  for  the  empress  had  formed  the  design,  and 
the  report  was  universally  promulgated,  of  ])Iacing  her  second 
grandchild,  Constantine,  on  the  throne  of  Constantinople. 

The  empress  set  out  on  her  triumphal  journey  to  the 
Crimea,  on  the  18th  of  January,  1787,  accompanied  b)  a 
magnificent  suite.  The  sledges,  large,  commodious  and  so 
lined   with   furs  as  to  furnish    luxurious   couches   for  repose. 


448  T  11  K      K  M  P  1  R  E     OF      RUSSIA. 

traveled  night  and  day.  Relays  of  horses  were  collected 
at  all  the  stations  and  immense  bonfires  blazed  at  night  all 
along  the  road.  Twenty-one  days  were  occupied  in  the  jour- 
ney to  Kief,  where  the  empress  was  met  by  all  the  nobles  of 
that  portion  of  the  empire.  Here  fifty  magnificent  galleys, 
upon  the  ice  of  the  Dnieper,  awaited  the  arrival  oithe  empress 
and  the  opening  of  the  river.  On  the  Gth  of  May  the  ice  was 
gone,  the  barges  were  afloat,  and  the  empress  with  iier  suite 
embarked.  The  King  of  Poland,  who  had  now  assumed  his 
old  name  of  Count  Poniatowski,  here  met,  in  the  barge  of  the 
empress,  his  rival,  Stanislaus  Augustus. 

The  passage  down  the  river,  in  this  lovely  month  of  spring, 
was  like  a  fairy  scene.  The  banks  of  the  Dnieper  were  lined 
Avilii  villages  constructed  for  the  occasion.  Peasants,  in  the 
mosL  picturesque  costumes,  tended  their  flocks,  or  attended  to 
various  industrial  arts  as  the  flotilla  drifted  by.  The  Emperor 
of  Germany,  Joseph  II.,  mut  the  empress  at  Kaidak,  from 
whence  they  pi-oceeded  together,  by  land,  to  Kherson.  Here 
Catharine  lodged  in  a  palace  where  a  throne  had  been  erected 
lor  the  occa>ion  which  cost  fourteen  thousand  dollars.  The 
whole  expense  of  this  one  journey  exceeded  seven  millions  of 
dolhirs.  From  Klierson  the  empress  proceeded  to  the  inland 
part  of  the  Crimean  peninsula.  Her  body  guard  consisted  of 
an  army  of  one  hundred  and  fitly  thousand  men,  stationed  at 
but  a  short  distance  from  her.  The  entertainments  in  the 
Crimea  were  of  the  most  gorgeous  character,  and  were  ar- 
ranged without  any  legard  to  expense.  On  the  return  of  the 
empress  she  reached  St.  Petersburg  the  end  of  July,  having 
been  absent  six  months  and  four  days.  All  Europe  was  sur- 
prised at  the  supineness  which  the  stdtan  had  manifested  in 
allowing  Cathai'ine  to  prosecute  her  journey  unobstructed ; 
but  Turkey  was  not  then  prepared  for  the  commencement  of 
hostilities. 

A  squadron  of  thirty  ships  of  war  soon  sailed  from  Constan- 
tinople and  entered  the  Eiixine.    The  Turks  were  apprehensive 


T  E  R  AI  I  X  A  T  I  O  ^■     OF     0  A  T  H  A  E  I  N  K  '  S     REIGN.       449 

that  tlie  Greeks  might  rise  and  disarmed  tliem  all  before  coiu- 
ineneiiig  the  eampaign.  The  empress  had  equipped,  at  Azof 
and  Kherson,  eight  ships  of  the  line,  twelve  frigates,  and  two 
hundred  gun-boats.  She  had,  in  addition,  a  large  squadron 
at  Cronstadt,  ready  to  sail  for  the  Mediterranean.  Eighty 
thousand  soldiers  were  also  on  the  march  from  Germany  to 
Moldavia.  Every  thing  indicated  that  the  entire  overthrow 
of  the  Ottoman  empire  was  at  hand. 

The  thunders  of  battle  soon  commenced  on  the  sea  and  on 
the  land.  Both  parties  fought  with  desperation.  Russia  and 
Austria  endeavored  to  unite  France  with  them,  in  the  attemjtt 
to  dismember  the  Turkish  eni})iie  as  Poland  had  been  parti- 
tioned, but  France  now  stood  in  dread  of  the  gigantic  growth 
both  of  Kussiii  and  of  Austria,  and  was  by  no  means  dis])osed 
to  strengthen  those  powers.  Enghuid  was  also  secretly  aid- 
ing the  Turks  and  sending  them  supplies.  Influenced  by  the 
same  jealousy  against  Russia,  Sweden  ventured  to  enter  into 
an  alliance  with  the  Turks,  while  Prussia,  from  the  same  mo- 
tive, secretly  lent  Gustavus  III.  money,  and  England  sent  him 
a  fleet.  Thus,  all  of  a  sudden,  new  and  appalling  dangers 
blazed  upon  Russia.  So  many  troops  had  been  sent  to  the 
Crimea  that  Catharine  was  quite  unprepared  for  an  attack 
from  the  Swedish  irontier. 

The  Grand  Duke  I*aul  begged  permission  of  his  mother 
that  he  might  join  the  army  against  the  Turks.  The  empress 
refused  her  coiiseut. 

"My  intention,"  wrote  again  the  grand  duke,  "of  going 
to  fight  against  the  Ottomans  is  publicly  known.  AVhat  will 
Europe  say,  in  seeing  that  I  do  not  carry  it  into  effect?" 

"  Europe  will  say,"  Catliai-ine  replied,  "  that  the  grand 
didie  of  Russia  is  a  dutiful  son." 

Tiie  apjjearance  of  tiie  powerful  Swedish  fleet  in  the  fJaltio 
rendered  it  necessary  for  Catharine  to  recall  the  order  for  the 
squadron  at  Cronstadt  to  sail  for  the  Mediterranean.  The 
r(jar  of  artillery  now  reverberated  alike  along  the  shores  of 


450  THE     EMPIRE      OF      K  U  S  S  I  A  . 

the  Baltic  and  over  the  waves  of  the  Eiixine.  Denmark  and 
Norway  were  brought  into  the  conflict,  and  all  Europe  was 
again  the  theater  of  intrigues  and  battles.  It  would  be  a 
weary  story  to  relate  the  numerous  conflicts,  defeats  and  vic-- 
tories  which  ensued.  Famine  and  pestilence  desolated  the 
regions  where  the  Turkish  and  Russian  armies  were  strug- 
gling. Army  after  army  was  destroyed  until  men  began  to 
grow  scarce  in  the  Russian  empire.  Even  the  wilds  of  Sibe- 
ria were  ransacked  for  exiles,  and  many  of  them  were  brought 
back  to  replenish  the  armies  of  the  empress.  At  length,  after 
a  warlare  of  two  years,  with  about  equal  success  on  both  sides, 
Catharine  and  Gustavus  came  to  terms,  both  equally  glad  to 
escape  the  blows  which  each  ga\e  the  other.  This  peace  en- 
abled Russia  to  concentrate  lier  energies  upon  Turkey. 

The  Turks  now  fell  like  grass  before  the  scythe.  But  the 
Russian  generals  and  soldiers  were  ofien  as  brutal  as  demons. 
Nominal  Christianity  was  no  more  merciful  than  was  pagan- 
ism. Count  Potemkin,  the  leader  of  tiie  Russian  army,  was 
one  of  the  worst  specimens  of  the  old  aristocracy,  which  now, 
in  many  parts  of  Europe,  have  gone  down  into  a  grave  whence, 
it  is  to  be  hoped,  there  can  be  no  resurrection.  The  Turkish 
town  of  Ismael  was  taken  in  September,  1790,  after  enormous 
slaughter.  The  French  Revolution  was  at  this  time  in  rapid 
progress,  and  several  Frenchmen  were  in  the  Russian  army. 
To  one  of  these.  Colonel  Langeron,  Potemkin  said, 

"  Colonel,  your  countrymen  are  a  pack  of  madmen.  I 
would  require  only  my  grooms  to  stand  by  me,  and  we  should 
soon  bring  them  to  their  senses." 

Langeron  replied,  "Prince,  I  do  not  think  you  would  be 
able  to  do  it  with  all  your  army  !" 

These  words  so  exasperated  the  Russian  general  that  he 
rose  in  a  rage,  and  threatened  to  send  Langeron  to  Siberia. 
Conscious  of  his  peril  the  French  colonel  fled,  and  entered 
into  the  service  of  tiie  Austrians. 

Emissaries  of  Catharine  were  sent  through  all  the  Greek 


TERMINATION     OF     C  ATI!  AKIN  K'S     REIGN.       451 

isles,  to  ui-gc  the  Greeks  to  rise  against  the  enemies  of  the 
cross  and  restore  their  country  to  independenee.  Many  <»f 
the  Greeks  rose,  and  Constnntino])le  was  in  consteination.  A 
Grecian  embassage  waited  upon  Catharine,  imploring  her  aid 
for  the  ent'ranchisemeut  of  their*  country,  and  that  she  Avould 
give  them  her  grandson  Constantine  for  a  sovereign.  On  the 
20th  of  February,  1790,  Joseph  II.,  Emperor  of  Austria,  died. 
and  was  succeeded  by  Leopold  II.,  who,  yielding  to  the  in- 
fluence of  Prussia,  concluded  a  separate  peace  with  the  Porte, 
and  lelt  Catharine  to  contend  alone  with  the  Ottomans.  The 
empress  now  saw  that,  notwithstanding  her  victories,  Russia 
was  exhausted,  and  that  she  could  not  hope  for  the  immediate 
accomplishment  of  her  ambitious  projects,  and  she  became 
desirous  of  peace.  Through  the  mediation  of  England  terms 
of  peace  were  proposed,  and  acceded  to  in  January,  1792.  In 
this  war  it  is  estimated  that  Russia  lost  two  hundred  thousand 
men,  Austria  one  hundred  and  thirty  thousand,  an<l  Turkey 
three  hundred  and  thirty  thousand.  Russia  expended  in  this 
war,  beneticial  to  none  and  ruinous  alike  to  all,  two  hundi'ed 
millions  of  dollars. 

The  empress,  thwarted  in  her  designs  upon  Turkey,  now 
turned  to  Poland.  War  was  soon  declared,  and  her  armies 
were  soon  sweeping  over  that  ill-fated  territory.  Kosciusko 
fought  like  a  hero  for  his  country,  but  ins  troops  were  merci- 
lessly butchered  by  Russian  and  Prussian  armies.  In  tiiumph 
the  allies  entered  the  gory  streets  of  Warsaw,  sent  tlie  king, 
Stanislaus  Augustus,  to  exile  on  a  small  i)ension,  and  divided 
the  lemainder  of  Poland  between  them.  Catharine  now  en- 
tered into  the  coalition  of  the  European  powei's  against  i-e- 
]»ul)lie;ui  Fnuice.  She  consenteil  to  a  treaty  with  England 
and  Austiia,  by  which  she  engaged  to  fe.rnish  an  army  of 
eighty  thousand  men  to  crush  the  spirit  of  French  libeity,  on 
condition  that  those  two  jiowers  should  consent  to  her  driving 
the  Turks  out  of  Euro})C.     Catharine   was  highly  elated    w  itli 


452  THE     EMPIRE      OF      KUSSIA. 

this  treaty.  It  was  drawn  up  and  was  to  be  signed  on  the 
6th  of  November,  1796. 

On  the  morning  of  that  day  the  empress,  in  her  usual 
healtli  and  spirits,  rose  from  the  breakfast  table,  and  retired  to 
her  closet.  Not  retuining  as  soon  as  usual,  some  of  her  at- 
tendants entered  and  found  her  on  the  floor  senseless.  She 
had  fallen  in  a  tit  of  apoplexy,  and  died  at  ten  o'clock  in  the 
evening  of  the  next  day  without  regaining  consciousness  or 
uttering  a  word,  in  the  sixty-seventh  year  of  her  age,  and 
after  a  reign  of  thirty-tive  years. 

Paul,  who  was  at  his  country  palace,  being  informed  of 
his  mother's  death,  and  of  his  accession  to  the  tlu-one, 
hastened  to  St.  Petersburg.  He  ordered  the  tomb  of  Peter 
HI.  to  be  opened  and  placed  the  coflin  by  the  side  of  that  of 
the  empress,  with  a  true  love  not  reaching  from  one  to  the 
othei-,  containing  tlie  inscription,  under  the  circumstances  su- 
premely ridiculous,  "  divided  in  life — united  in  death."  They 
were  both  buried  together  with  the  most  sumptuous  funeral 
honors. 

The  character  of  Catharine  II.  is  sufficiently  portrayed  in 
her  marvelous  history.  The  annals  of  past  ages  may  be 
searched  in  vain  for  her  parallel.  Two  passions  were  ever 
predominant  with  her,  love  and  ambition.  Her  mind  seemed 
incapable  of  exhaustion,  and  notwithstanding  the  number  of 
her  successive  favorites,  with  wliom  she  entered  into  the  most 
guilty  connections,  no  monarch  ever  reigned  with  more  dignity 
or  with  a  more  undisputed  sway.  Under  her  reign,  notwith- 
standing the  desolating  wars,  Russia  made  rapid  advances  in 
power  and  civilization.  She  protected  commerce,  excited  in- 
dustiy,  cultivated  the  arts,  encouraged  learning,  promoted 
manufactures,  twunded  cities,  dug  canals,  and  developed  in  a 
thousand  ways  \\\r  wealth  and  resources  of  the  country.  She 
had  so  many  vices  that  some  have  consigned  her  name  to  in- 
Jiimy,  and  so  many  virtues,  that  others  have  advocated  her 
canonization. 


TERMINATION     OF     CATHAKINE's     REIGX.       -153 

By  the  most  careful  calculation  it  is  estimated  that  (luring 
the  thirty  live  years  of  the  reign  of  Catharine,  she  added  over 
four  hundred  thousand  square  miles  to  the  territory  of  Rus- 
sia, and  six  millions  of  inhabitants.  It  would  be  difticidt  to 
estimate  the  multitude  of  lives  and  the  amount  of  treasure 
expended  in  her  ambitious  wars.  We  know  of  no  more  affect- 
ing comment  to  be  made  upon  the  history  of  our  world,  th;;n 
that  it  presents  such  a  bloody  tragedy,  that  even  the  career 
of  Catharine  does  not  stand  out  in  any  peculiar  prominence 
of  atrocity.  God  made  man  but  little  lower  than  the  angels. 
He  is  indeed  fallen. 


CHAPTER    XXVIII. 

TH.  E      REICIN      OF      PAUL      I. 

From  1796  to  1801. 

Accession  of  Paul  I.  to  the  Throne. — Influence  of  the  Heeeditakt  Transmission 
OP  Power. — Extravagance  of  Paul. — His  Despotism. — The  Horse  Court  Mar- 
TiALED. — Progress  OF  THE  French  Kevolution. — Fears  and  Violence  of  Pau 
— Hostility  to  Foreigners. — Russia  Joins  the  Coalition  against  France. — 
March  of  Suwaerow. — Character  of  Suwarrow. — Battle  on  the  Adda.— Bat- 
tle   OF    NOVI. — Su\VAKROW    MARCHES   TO    THE    KlIINE. — HlS   DEFEAT  AND    DEATH. — 

Paul  Abandons  the  Coalition  and  Joins  France. — Conspiracies  at  St.  Peters- 
burg. 

FEW  sovereigns  have  ever  ascended  the  throne  more  igno- 
rant of  alFairs  of  state  than  was  Paul  I.  Catharine  had 
endeavored  to  protract  his  childhood,  entrusting  lum  with  no 
responsibilities,  and  regulating  herself  minutely  all  his  domes- 
tic .and  private  concerns.  He  was  carefully  excluded  from 
any  participation  in  national  affiiirs  and  was  not  permitted  to 
superintend  even  his  own  household.  Catharine  took  his  chil- 
dren under  her  own  protection  as  soon  as  they  were  born, 
and  the  parents  were  seldom  allowed  to  see  them.  Paul  I. 
liad  experienced,  in  his  own  person,  all  the  burden  of  despot- 
ism ere  he  ascended  Russia's  despotic  throne.  Natuially  de- 
.sirous  to  secure  popularity,  lie  commenced  liis  reign  with  acts 
which  wei'e  much  applauded.  lie  introduced  economy  into 
the  expenditures  of  the  court,  Ibrbade  the  depreciation  of  the 
currency  and  the  further  issue  of  paper  money,  and  withdrew 
tlie  army  which  Catharine  had  sent  to  Persia  on  a  career  of 
conquest.  , 

Paul  r.  did  not  love  his  mother.     He  did  not  believe  that 
he  was  lier  legitimate  child.     Still,  as  his  only  title  to  the 


THE     REIGN      OF     PAUL      I.  455 

llirone  was  fouiuled  on  his  boiiio-  the  reputed  child  of  Pelcr 
III.,  he  did  what  he  could  to  rescue  the  memory  otthat  prince 
from  the  infamy  to  which  it  had  been  very  properly  consigned. 
He  had  felt  so  humiliated  by  the  domineering  spirit  of  Catli- 
arine,  that  he  resolved  that  Russia  should  not  again  fliU  undi'r 
the  reign  of  a  woman,  and  issued  a  decree  that  henceforth  the 
crowM  should  descend  in  the  male  line  only,  and  from  father  to 
son.  The  new  emperor  manifested  his  liostility  to  h's  mother, 
by  endeavoring  in  various  ways  to  undo  what  she  had  done. 

The  history  of  Europe  is  but  a  continued  comment  upon 
the  folly  of  the  law  of  the  hereditary  descent  of  power,  a  law 
which  is  more  likely  to  place  the  crown  upon  the  brow  of  a 
knave,  a  fool  or  a  madman,  than  upon  that  of  one  qualified  to 
govern.  Russia  soon  awoke  to  the  consciousness  that  the 
destinies  of  thirty  millions  of  people  were  in  the  hands  of  a 
maniac,  whose  conduct  seemed  to  prove  that  his  only  proper 
place  was  in  one  of  the  wards  of  Bedlam,  The  grossest  con- 
tradictions followed  each  other  in  constant  succession.  To- 
day he  would  caress  his  wife,  to-morrow  j)lace  her  under  mili- 
tary arrest.  At  one  hour  he  would  load  his  children  with 
favors,  and  the  next  endeavor  to  expose  them  publicly  to 
shame. 

Though  Paul  severely  blamed  his  mother  for  the  vast  sums 
she  lavished  ujjon  her  court,  these  complaints  did  not  ])revent 
him  from  surpassing  her  in  extravagance.  TJie  innunierable 
palaces  she  had  reared  and  embellished  with  more  than  ori- 
ental splendor,  were  not  sufficient  lor  him.  Neither  the  Winter 
palace,  nor  the  Summer  palace,  nor  the  palace  of  Anitschkotf, 
nor  the  Marble  palace,  nor  the  Hermitage,  whose  fairy-like 
gorgeousness  ainaz'.'d  all  beholders,  nor  a  crowd  of  other  loyal 
residences,  too  niinierous  t(j  mention,  and  nearly  all  world- 
renowned,  were  deemed  worthy  of  the  residence  of  the  new 
monarch.  Pretending  that  he  had  received  a  celestial  injunc- 
tion to  construct  a  new  palace,  he  built,  reckless  of  exi)ense, 
the  chateau  of  St,  Michael. 


456  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

The  crown  of  Catharine  was  the  wonder  of  Enro])e,  but  it 
was  not  rich  enougli  for  the  brow  of  Paul,  A  new  one  was 
constructed,  and  his  coronation  at  Moscow  was  attended  with 
freaks  of  expenditure  wlucli  impoverislied  provinces.  Bound- 
Jess  gifts  were  lavished  upon  his  favorites.  But  that  he  might 
enrich  a  single  noble,  ten  thousand  peasants  were  robbed. 
The  crown  peasants  were  vassals,  enjoying  very  considerable 
freedom  and  many  privileges.  The  peasantry  of  the  nobles 
Avere  slaves,  nearly  as  muc^h  so  as  those  on  a  Cuban  plantation, 
with  the  single  exception  that  custom  prevented  their  being 
sold  except  with  the  land.  Like  the  buildings,  the  oaks  and 
the  elms,  they  were  inseparably  attached  to  the  soil.  The 
emperor,  at  his  coronation,  gave  away  eighty  thousand  fam- 
ilies to  his  favorites.  Their  labor  henceforth,  for  life,  was  all 
to  go  to  enrich  their  masters.  These  courtiers,  reveling  in 
boundless  luxury,  surrendered  their  slaves  to  overseers,  whose 
reputation  depended  upon  extorting  as  much  as  possible  from 
the  miserable  boors. 

The  extravagance  of  Catharine  II.  had  rendered  it  neces- 
sary for  her  to  triple  the  capitation,  or,  as  we  should  call  it,  the 
poll-tax,  imposed  upon  the  peasants.  Paul  now  doubled  this 
tax,  which  his  mother  had  already  tripled.  The  King  of  Prus- 
sia had  issued  a  decree  that  no  subject  should  fall  uj^on  his 
knees  before  him,  but  that  every  man  should  maintain  in  his 
presence  and  in  that  of  the  law  the  dignity  of  humanity.  Paul, 
on  the  contrary,  reestablished,  in  all  its  rigor,  the  oriental  eti- 
quette, which  Peter  I,  and  Catharine  had  allowed  to  pass  into 
disuse,  which  required  every  individual,  whether  a  citizen  or 
a  stianger,  to  fall  instantly  upon  his  knees  whenever  the  tzar 
made  his  ai)pearance.  Thus,  when  Paul  [)assed  along  the 
streets  on  horseback  or  in  his  carriage,  every  man,  woman 
and  child,  within  sight  of  the  royal" cortege,  was  compelled  to 
kneel,  wliether  in  mud  or  snow,  until  the  cortege  had  passed. 
No  one  was  exempted  from  the  rule.  Strangers  and  citizens, 
nobles  and  peasants,  were  compelled  to  the  degrading  homage. 


THE     REIGN     OF      PAUL     I.  457 

Those  on  liorseback  or  in  carriages  were  required  instantly  to 
dismount  and  prostrate  themselves  before  the  despot. 

A  noble  lady  who  came  to  St.  Petersburg  in  her  carriage, 
in  great  haste,  to  seek  medical  aid  for  lier  husband,  wlio  had 
been  suddenly  taken  sick,  in  lier  trouble  not  having  recogniz  -d 
the  imperial  livery,  was  dragged  from  her  caniage  and  tln-ust 
into  prison.  Iler  four  servants,  who  accompanied  her,  were 
seized  and  sent  to  the  army,  although  they  plead  e:irnestly 
that,  coming  from  a  distance,  they  were  ignorant  of  the  law, 
tlie  infraction  of  which  nvas  attributed  to  them  as  a  crime. 
The  unhappy  lady,  thus  separated  from  hei-  sick  husband,  and 
plunged  into  a  dungeon,  was  so  overwhelmed  with  anguish 
that  she  was  thrown  into  a  fever.  Reason  was  dethroned,  and 
she  became  a  hopeless  maniac.  The  husband  died,  being  de- 
prived of  the  succor  his  wife  had  attempted  to  obtain. 

The  son  of  a  rich  merchant,  passing  rapidly  in  his  sleigh, 
muftled  in  furs,  did  not  perceive  the  carriage  of  the  emperor 
which  he  met,  until  it  had  passed.  The  police  seized  him  ;  his 
sleigh  and  hoises  were  contiscated.  He  was  placed  in  close  con- 
finement foi-  a  month,  and  then,  after  receiving  fiity  blows  from 
the  terrible  knout,  was  delivered  to  his  friends  a  mangled  form, 
barely  alive. 

A  young  lady,  by  some  accident,  had  not  thrown  herself 
upon  her  knees  quick  enough  at  the  appearance  of  the  imperial 
carriage  in  the  streets  of  Moscow.  She  was  an  orphan  ami 
resided  with  an  aunt.  They  were  both  imprisoned  for  a  month 
and  le<l  upon  bread  and  water;  the  young  lady  for  failing  in 
respect  to  the  emperor,  and  the  aunt  for  not  having  better 
instructed  her  niece.  How  strange  is  this  power  of  despotism, 
by  w  hicli  one  madman  compels  forty  millions  of  people  to 
tremble  before  him ! 

One  of  the  freaks  of  this  cnizy  prince  was  to  court-ni;ii  li.il 
his  horse.  Tlie  noble  steed  had  tripped  beneath  his  rider. 
A  council  was  convened,  com[)Osed  of  the  ecpierries  ot  the 
palace.     The  liorse  was  proved  guilty  of  failing  in  respect  to 

20 


458  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

his  majesty,  and  was  condemned  to  receive  fifty  blows  fiom  a 
heavy  whip.  Paul  stood  by,  as  the  sentence  was  executed, 
counting  oflf  the  blows.* 

Twelve  Polish  gentlemen  were  condemned,  for  being 
"  wanting  in  respect  to  his  majesty,"  to  have  their  noses  and 
eai's  cut  off",  and  were  then  sent  to  perpetual  Siberian  exiie. 
When  any  one  was  admitted  to  an  audience  with  the  tzai ,  it 
v/as  necessary  for  him  to  fall  upon  his  knees  so  suddenly  and 
1  eavily  that  his  bones  would  ring  upon  the  floor  like  the  butt 
(if  a  musket.  No  gentle  genuflexion  satisfied  the  tzar.  A 
prince  Gallatin  was  imprisoned  for  "  kneeling  and  kissing  the 
emperor's  hand  too  negligently."  This  contempt  for  humanity 
soon  rendered  Paul  very  unpopular.  He  well  knew  that  his 
k'gitimacy  was  doubted,  and  that  if  an  illegitiraite  child  he 
hud  no  right  whatever  to  the  throne.  He  seemed  to  wish  to 
prove  that  he  was  the  son  of  Peter  HI.  by  imitating  all  the 
silly  and  cruel  caprices  of  that  most  contemptible  prince. 

The  French  Revolution  was  now  in  progress,  the  crushed 
people  of  that  kingdom  endeavoring  to  throw  off"  the  yoke  of 
intolerable  oppression.  All  the  despots  in  Europe  were  alarmed 
lest  popular  liberty  in  France  should  undermine  their  thrones. 
None  were  more  alaimed  than  Paul.  He  was  so  fearful  that 
democratic  ideas  might  enter  his  kingdom  that  he  forbade  the 
intioduction  into  his  lealms  of  any  French  journal  or  pam- 
phlet. All  Frenclanen  in  his  kinodom  were  also  ordered  irn- 
mediately  to  depart.  All  ships  aniving  were  searched  and  if 
any  French  subjects  were  on  board,  men  or  women,  they  were 
not  [permitted  to  land,  but  were  immediately  sent  out  of  the 
kingdom.  j\Ierchants,  who  had  left  their  families  and  their 
business  for  a  temporary  absence,  were  not  permitted  :vgain 
to  set  foot  in  the  kingdom.  The  sufl:ering  which  this  cruel 
edict  occasioned  was  very  great. 

Day  after  day  new  decrees  were  issued,  of  ever  increasing 
violence.  The  tzar  became  suspicious  of  all  strangers  of  what- 
*  Memoires  Secret,  tome  i.,  page  334. 


THE      REIGX      OF     PAUL     I.  459 

ever  nation,  and  eTideaYored  to  rear  a  wall  of  separation 
around  his  whole  kingdom  which  should  exclude  it  from  all 
intercourse  with  other  parts  of  Europe.  The  German  uni- 
versities were  all  declared  to  be  tainted  with  superstition,  and 
all  Russians  were  prohibited,  under  }>cnalty  of  the  contiscntion 
of  their  estates,  from  sending  their  sons  to  those  institutions, 
No  foreigner,  of  whatever  nation,  was  allowed  to  take  pait  in 
any  civil  or  ecclesiastical  service.  The  young  Kus>ians  wlio 
were  already  in  the  German  universities,  were  commanded 
immediately  to  return  to  their  homes. 

Apprehensive  that  knowledge  itself,  by  whomsoever  com- 
municated, might  make  the  people  restless  under  their  enor- 
mous wrongs,  Paul  suppressed  nearly  all  the  schools  which 
had  been  founded  by  Catharine  II.,  reserving  only  a  few  to 
communicate  instruction  in  the  military  art.  All  books,  but 
those  issued  under  the  surveillance  of  the  government,  were 
interdicted.  The  greatest  eflfbrts  w^ere  made  to  draw  a  broad 
line  of  distinction  between  the  people  and  the  nobles,  and  to 
place  a  barrier  there  which  no  plebeian  could  pass.  Some  one 
informed  Paul  that  in  France  the  revolutionists  wore  the 
chapeau,  or  three-cornered  hat,  with  one  of  the  corners  in 
front.  The  tzar  immediately  issued  a  decree  that  in  llussia 
the  hat  should  be  worn  with  the  corner  behind. 

"We  have  said  that  Paul  was  bitterly  hostile  to  all  foreign- 
ers. The  emigrants,  however,  who  fled  from  France,  with 
arms  in  their  hands,  imploring  the  courts  of  Euro[)e  to  crush 
republican  lil)erty  in  France,  he  welcomed  willi  the  greatest 
cordiality  and  loaded  with  favors.  The  princes  and  nobles  of 
the  French  court  received  from  I*aul  lai-ge  pensions,  while,  at 
the  same  time,  he  ignobly  made  them  feel  that  he  was  their 
master  and  they  were  his  slaves.  His  dread  of  French  lihertx 
was  so  great,  that  with  all  his  soul  he  entered  into  the  wide- 
spread European  coalition  which  the  genius  of  Pitt  had  organ- 
ized against  France,  and  which  embraced  even  Turkey.  And 
now  for  the  first  time  the  spectacle  M-as  seen  of  the  Russian 


460  THE     EMPIRE     OF      RUSSIA. 

and  Turkish  squadrons  comLining  against  a  common  foe. 
Paul  sent  an  aimy  of  one  hundred  tliousand  men  to  eo- 
operate  with  the  alhes.  Republican  France  gatliered  n\>  lier 
energies  to  resist  Europe  in  arms.  The  young  Napoleon, 
heading  a  heroic  hand  of  half-famished  soldiers,  turnid  tlie 
Alps  and  fell  like  a  thunderbolt  into  tlie  Austrian  camp  upon 
the  plains  of  Italy.  In  a  series  of  victories  which  astounded 
tiie  V.  urld  lie  swept  the  foe  before  liim,  and  compelled  tlie 
Austrians  to  sue  for  peace.  The  embassadors  of  France  and 
Germany  met  at  Rastadt,  in  congress,  and  after  s{)endiug 
many  months  in  negotiations,  the  congress  was  dissolved  by 
the  Emperor  of  Germany,  in  April,  1799.  The  French  em- 
bassadors set  out  to  return,  and  were  less  than  a  quarter  of  a 
mile  from  tlie  city,  when  a  troop  of  Austrian  hussars  lell  upon 
them,  and  two  of  their  number,  Roberjeot  and  Bonnier,  were 
treacherously  assassinated.  The  third,  Delry,  though  left  for 
dead,  revived  so  far  as  to  be  able,  covered  with  wounds  and 
blood,  to  crawl  back  to  Rastadt.* 

Napoleon  was  at  this  time  in  Egypt,  endeavoring  to  assail 
England,  the  most  formidable  foe  of  France,  in  India,  the  only 
vulnerable  point  which  could  be  reached.  Fifty  thousand 
Russians,  in  a  single  band,  were  marching  through  Germany 
to  cooperate  with  the  Austrians  on  the  French  frontiers.  The 
inore  polished  Germans  were  astonished  at  tlie  barbaric  char- 
acter of  their  allies.     A  Russian  officer,  in  a  freak  of  passion, 

*  "  Our  pleuipotentiaries  were  massacred  at  Rastadt,  and  notwithstand- 
inj'  the  indignation  expressed  by  all  France  at  that  atrocity,  vengeance  was 
still  very  tardy  in  overtaking  the  assassins.  The  two  Councils  were  the  first 
to  render  a  melancholy  tribute  of  honor  to  the  victims.  Who  that  saw  that 
ceremony  ever  forgot  its  solemnity  ?  Who  can  recollect  without  emotion  the 
religious  silence  which  reigned  throughout  the  hall  and  galleries  when  the 
vote  was  put  ?  The  president  then  turned  towards  the  curule  chairs  of  the 
victims,  on  which  lay  the  official  costume  of  the  assassinated  representatives, 
covered  with  black  crape,  bent  over  them,  pronounced  the  names  of  Rober- 
jeot and  Bonnier,  and  added,  in  a  voice,  the  tone  of  which  was  always  thrill- 
ing, Assassinated  at  the  Gonr/ress  of' Rastadt.  Immediately  all  the  represent- 
atives responded,  May  their  Hood  he  upon  the  heads  of  their  murderers.'" 
— DiMchend  of  Ahrardeti.  p.  206. 


THE     REIGN      OF      PAUL      I.  461 

shot  an  Austrian  postilion,  anil  then  took  out  his  purse  and 
enquired  of  the  employer  of  the  postilion  what  damage  was 
to  be  paid,  as  eoolly  as  if  he  had  merely  killed  a  hurse  or 
a  eow.  Even  German  law  was  compelled  to  wink  at  such 
outrages,  fur  an  ally  so  essential  as  Russia  it  was  needftd  to 
conciliate  at  all  hazards.  Paul  deemed  himself  the  most  illus- 
trious monarch  of  Europe,  and  resolved  that  none  but  a  Rus- 
sian general  should  lead  the  allied  armies.  The  Germans,  on 
the  contrary,  regarded  the  Russians  as  barbarians  of  woUish 
courage  and  gigantic  strength,  but  far  too  ignorant  of  mili- 
tary science  to  be  entrusted  with  the  plan  of  a  campaign. 
After  much  contention  the  Emperor  of  Austria  Avas  compelled 
to  yield,  and  an  old  Russian  general,  Suwarrow,  was  placed 
in  command  of  the  armies  of  the  two  most  powerful  empires 
then  on  the  globe. 

And  who  was  Suwarrow  ?  Behold  his  portrait.  Born  in 
a  village  of  the  Ukraine,  the  boy  was  sent  by  his  father,  an 
army  oflicer,  to  the  military  academy  at  St.  Peteisburg, 
whence  he  entered  the  army  as  a  common  soldier,  and  ever 
after,  for  more  than  sixty  years,  he  lived  in  incessant  battles 
in  Sweden,  Turkey,  Poland.  In  the  storm  of  Ismael,  forty 
llujusand  men,  women  and  children  fell  in  indiscriminate  mas- 
sacre at  his  command.  In  the  campaign  which  resulted  in  the 
]>arlition  of  Poland,  twenty  thousand  Poles  were  cut  d<nvn  by 
l.is  dragoons.  A  stranger  to  fear,  grossly  illiterate,  and  with 
710  htunan  sym[)athies,  he  appears  on  the  ai'cna  but  as  a  thun- 
derbolt of  war.  Next  to  the  emperor  Paul,  he  was  perhaps 
the  most  fantastic  man  on  the  continent.  In  a  war  with  the 
Turks  he  killed  a  large  number  with  his  oui)  hands,  and 
brought,  on  his  shoulders,  a  sackful  of  heads,  which  he  rolled 
out  at  the  feet  of  his  general.  This  was  the  commencement 
of  his  reputation.*  Ilis  whole  military  career  was  iu  accord- 
ance witli  this  act.  lie  had  but  one  passion,  love  of  war.  Tie 
would  often,  even  in  inid-winter,  liave  one  or  two  [jailsl'ul  of 

*  Ilistoire  Philosophiquo  et  Politique  de  Russio.    Torno  cinquiciine,  \>.  '2?>3. 


462  THE     EM  PIKE      OF     EUSSIA. 

cold  water  poured  upon  him,  as  he  rose  from  his  bed,  and 
then,  in  liis  shiit,  leap  upon  an  unsaddled  horse  and  scour  the 
c;un[)  with  the  speed  of  the  wind.  Sometimes  he  would  ;ip- 
pear,  in  the  early  morning,  at  the  door  of  his  tent,  stark  naked, 
and  crow  like  a  cock.  Tliis  was  a  signal  for  the  tented  host 
to  spring  to  arms.  Occasionally  he  would  visit  the  hospital, 
pretending  that  he  was  a  physician,  and  would  prescribe  med- 
icine for  those  whom  he  thought  sick,  and  scourgings  for 
those  whom  he  imagined  to  be  feigning  sickness.  Sometimes 
he  would  turn  all  the  patients  out  of  the  doors,  sick  and  well, 
saying  that  it  was  not  permitted  for  the  soldiers  of  Suwarrow 
to  be  sick.  He  was  as  merciless  to  himself  as  he  was  to  his 
soldiers.  Hunger,  cold,  fatigue,  seemed  to  him  to  be  pleas- 
ures. Hardships  which  to  many  would  render  life  a  scene  of 
insupportable  torture,  were  to  him  joys.  He  usually  traveled 
in  a  coarse  cart,  which  he  made  his  home,  sleeping  in  it  at 
night,  with  but  the  slightest  jirotection  from  the  weather. 
Whenever  he  lodged  in  a  house,  his  aides  took  the  precaution 
to  remove  the  windows  from  his  room,  as  he  would  otherwise 
inevitably  smash  every  glass. 

Notwithstanding  this  ostentatious  display  of  his  hatred  of 
all  luxury,  he  was  excessively  fond  of  diamonds  and  other  pre- 
cious stones.  He  was  also  exceedingly  superstitious,  ever  fall- 
ing upon  liis  knees  before  whatever  priest  he  might  meet,  and 
imploring  his  benediction.  Such  men  generally  feel  that  tlie 
observance  of  ceremonial  rites  absolves  them  from  the  guill 
of  social  crimes.  With  these  democratic  manners  Suwai-row 
utterly  detested  liberty.  The  French,  as  the  most  libert}- 
loviiig  peoi)le  of  Europe,  he  abhorred  above  all  others.  He 
foamed  with  rage  when  he  spoke  of  them.  In  the  sham  lights 
with  uliich  he  irequeutly  exercised  the  army,  when  in;  gave 
the  order  to  "  charge  tlie  miserable  French,''''  every  soldier 
was  to  make  two  thrusts  of  the  bayonet  in  advance,  as  if  twice 
to  pierce  tlie  heart  of  the  foe,  and  a  third  thrust  into  the 
gi'ound,  that  the  man,  twice  bayoneted,  might  be  pinned  in 


TUE     REIGN      or     PAUL     1.  463 

death  to  the  earth.  Such  was  tlie  general  whom  Paul  sent 
"to  destroy  the  impious  government,"  as  he  ex]»i-essed  it, 
"  which  dominated  over  France." 

^Vith  blind  confidence  Suwarrow  inarched  down  upon  the 
plains  of  Lombardy,  dreaming  that  in  those  fertile  realms 
DOtliing  awaited  him  but  an  easy  triumph  over  those  who  had 
been  guilty  of  the  crime  of  abolishing  despotism.  Tiie  French 
had  Jieard  appalling  rumors  of  the  prowess  and  ferocity  of 
these  warriois  of  the  North,  and  awaited  the  shock  with  no 
little  solicitude.*  The  two  armies  met  on  the  banks  of  the 
Adda,  which  flows  into  the  northern  part  of  the  Lake  of  Como. 
Suwarrow  led  sixty  thousand  Russians  and  Austrians.  The 
French  general,  Moreau,  to  oppose  them,  had  the  wreck  of  an 
army,  consisting  of  twenty-five  thousand  men,  disheartened 
by  defeat.  On  the  l7th  of  April,  1799,  fhe  first  Russian  regi- 
ment appeared  in  sight  of  the  bridge  of  Lecco.  The  French, 
indignant  at  tlie  interference  of  the  Russians  in  a  quarrel  with 
"which  tliey  had  no  concern,  dashed  upon  them  with  tiieir  bay- 
onets, and  I'epulsed  them  with  great  carnage.  But  the  hosts 
of  Russia  and  Austria  came  pouiing  on  in  such  overwhelming 
numbers,  that  Moreau,  with  his  forces  reduced  to  twenty  thou- 
sand men,  was  compelled  to  retreat  before  an  aiiiiy  which 
could  concentrate  ninety  thousand  troops  in  line  of  battle. 
Pressed  by  the  enemy,  he  retreated  through  Milan  to  Turin. 
Suwarrow  tariied  in  Milan  to  enjoy  a,  triumph  accoided  to  him 
by  the  priests  and  the  nobles,  the  creatures  of  Austria. 

Moreau  entrenched  himself  at  Alexandria,  awaiting  the 
arrival  of  General  Macdonald  with  reinforcements.    Suwariow 

*  •'  Suwarrow  was  a  genuine  barbarian,  fortunately  incapable  of  calculat- 
ing the  employment  of  his  forces,  otlierwise  the  republic  might  perhaps  have 
succumbed.  His  army  was  like  himself.  It  had  a  bravery  that  was  extra- 
ordinary and  bordered  on  fanaticism,  but  no  instruction.  It  was  expert  only 
at  tlie  use  of  the  bayonet,  Suwarrow,  extremely  insolent  to  the  allies,  gave 
Russian  oCBcers  to  the  Austrians  to  teach  them  the  use  of  tiie  bayonet.  For- 
tunately his  brutal  energy,  after  doing  a  great  deal  of  mischief,  had  to  encoun- 
ter the  energy  of  skill  and  calculation,  and  was  foiled  ijy  the  hitler." — Thiers' 
History  Frenck  litvolulion,  vol.  iv.,  p.  3-lC. 


164  THB     EM  PIKE      OF      RUSSIA. 

approached  wilh  an  army  uow  exceeding  one  hundred  thou- 
sand men.  Agam  Moreau  was  compelled  to  retreat,  pursued 
by  Suwarrow,  and  took  refuge  on  the  crest  of  the  Apennines, 
in  the  vicinity  of  Genoa.  By  immense  exertions  he  had  assem- 
bled forty  thousand  men.  Suwarrow  came  thundering  upon 
him  with  sixty  thousand.  The  French  army  w^as  formed  in  a 
semicircle  on  the  slopes  of  the  Monte  Rotundo,  about  twenty 
Tuiles  nortli  of  Genoa.  The  Austro-Russian  army  spread  over 
the  wJiole  plain  below.  At  five  o'clock  in  the  morning  of  the 
lotii  of  August,  1799,  the  tierce  battle  of  Novi  commenced. 
Suwari'ow,  a  tierce  fighter,  but  tota,lly  unacquainted  with  the 
science  of  strategy,  in  characterii^tic  words  gave  the  order  of 
battle.  "  Kray,"  said  he,  "  will  attack  the  left — the  Russians 
the  center — Melas  the  right."  To  the  soldiers  he  said,  "  God 
wills,  the  emperor  orders,  Suwarrow  commands,  that  to-mor- 
row the  enemy  be  conquered."  Dressed  in  his  usual  costume, 
in  his  shirt  dowai  to  the  waist,  he  led  his  troops  into  battle. 
Enormous  slaughter  ensued  ;  numbers  prevailing  against 
science,  and  the  French,  driven  out  of  Italy,  took  refuge  along 
the  ridges  of  the  Apennines. 

Suwarrow,  satisfied  with  his  dearly-bought  victory,  for  he 
liad  lost  ten  thousand  men  in  the  conflict,  did  not  venture  to 
pursue  the  retiring  foe,  but  with  his  bleeding  and  exhausted 
ainiy  fell  back  to  Coni ;  and  thence  established  garrisons 
throughout  Piedmont  and  Lombardy.  Paul  was  almost  de- 
lirious with  joy  at  this  great  victory.  He  issued  a  decree  de- 
claring Suwarruw  to  be  the  greatest  general  "of  all  times,  of 
all  peoples  and  of  all  quarters  of  the  globe."  In  his  pride  lie 
declared  that  republican  France,  for  tlije  crime  of  rebelling 
against  legitimate  authority,  should  receive  punishment  which 
should  warn  all  nations  against  following  her  example.  The 
Russian  squadron  combined  with  that  of  the  Turks,  formed  a 
junction  with  the  victorious  fleet  of  Nelson,  and  sailing  from 
the  bay  of  Aboukir,  swept  the  French  fleet  from  the  Medi- 
t  erranean. 


THE      REIGN      OF      PAUL      I.  4Go 

The  Austrians  and  Kussians,  thus  victorious,  now  marchoil 
to  assail  Massena  at  Zurich  on  the  Rliine,  intending  there  to 
cross  the  stream  and  invade  France.  For  a  month,  in  SL'ptem- 
ber  and  October,  1V99,  there  was  a  series  of  incessant  battles. 
But  the  re{)ublican  armies  were  trium[)hant.  The  banners  of 
France  struggled  proudly  through  many  scenes  of  blood  and 
woe,  and  the  shores  of  Lake  Zurich  and  the  fastnesses  of  the 
Alps,  were  strewed  with  the  dead  bodies  of  the  Russians.  In 
tourteen  days  twenty  thousand  Russians  and  six  thousand 
Austiians  were  slain.  Suwarrow,  the  intrepid  barbarian,  with 
but  ten  thousand  men  saved  from  his  proud  army,  retreated 
overwhelmed  with  confusion  and  rage.  Republican  France 
was  saved.  The  rage  which  Suwarrow  displayed  is  repi-e- 
sented  as  truly  maniacal.  He  foamed  at  the  moutli  and 
roared  like  a  bull.  As  a  wounded  lion  turns  upon  his  pur- 
suers, from  time  to  time  he  stopped  in  his  retreat,  and  rushed 
back  upon  the  foe.  He  was  crushed  in  body  and  mind  by 
this  defeat.  Having  wearied  himself  in  denouncing,  in  un- 
measured terms,  all  his  generals  and  soldiers,  he  became  taci- 
turn and  moody.  Secluding  himself  from  his  fellow-men  lie 
courted  solitude,  and  surrendered  himself  to  a  fantastic  and 
superstitious  devotion.  Enveloped  in  a  cloak,  and  M'ith  his 
eyes  lixed  upon  the  ground,  he  would  occasionally  })ass 
through  the  camp,  condescending  to  notice  no  one. 

Paul  had  also  sent  an  army  into  Holland,  agaiiTst  France, 
which  had  been  utterly  repulsed  by  General  Brune,  with  the 
loss  of  many  slain  and  taken  prisoners.  The  tidings  of  these 
disasters  roused,  in  the  bosom  of  Paul,  fury  equal  to  that 
which  Suwai-row  had  displayed.  He  bitterly  c(n-sed  his  allies, 
England  and  Austria,  declaring  that  they,  in  the  pursuit  of 
their  own  selfish  interests,  had  al)andoned  his  armies  to  de- 
struction. Suwarrow,  deprived  of  further  command,  and  over- 
whelmed with  disgrace,  retired  to  one  of  his  rin  al  retreats 
where  he  soon  died  of  ciingrin. 

The  Austrian  and  English  embassadors  at  the  court  of  St. 
20* 


466  TUE     EMPIEE      OF      EUSSIA. 

Petersburg,  Paul  loaded  with  reproaches  and  even  with  in- 
sults. His  conduct  became  so  whimsical  as  to  lead  many  to 
suppose  that  he  was  actually  insane.  He  had  long  hated  the 
French  republicans,  but  now,  witli  a  new  and  a  fresher  fury,  he 
bated  the  allies.  The  wrecks  of  his  armies  were  ordered  to 
return  to  Russia,  and  he  ceased  to  take  an  active  part  in  the 
prosecution  of  the  war,  without  however  professing,  in  any 
way,  to  withdraw  from  the  coalition.  Neither  the  Austrian 
nor  the  English  embassador  could  obtain  an  audience  with  the 
emperor.  He  treated  them  with  utter  neglect,  and,  the  court 
following  the  example  of  the  sovereign,  these  embassadors 
were  left  in  perfect  solitude.  They  could  not  even  secure  an 
audience  vnth  any  of  the  ministry. 

Paul  had  been  very  justly  called  the  Don  Quixote  of  the 
coalition,  and  the  other  powers  were  now  not  a  little  appre- 
hensive of  the  course  he  might  adopt,  for  madman  as  he  was, 
he  was  the  powerful  monarch  of  some  forty  millions  of  people. 
Soon  he  ordered  the  Russian  iieet,  which  in  cooperation  with 
the  squadrons  of  the  allies  was  blockading  Malta,  to  withdraw 
from  the  conflict.  Then  he  recalled  his  ministers  from  Lon- 
don luid  Vienna,  declaring  that  neither  England  nor  Austria 
was  contending  for  any  jDrinciple,  but  that  tliey  were  fighting 
merely  for  their  own  selfish  interests.  England  had  already 
openly  declared  her  intention  of  ajiprojiriating  Malta  to  herself 

Napoleon  had  now  returned  from  Egypt  and  had  been  in- 
vested with  the  supreme  power  in  France  as  First  Consul. 
There  were  many  French  prisoners  in  the  hands  of  the  allies. 
Fi-ance  had  also  ten  thousand  Russian  prisoners.  Napoleon 
proposed  an  exchange.  Both  England  and  Austria  refused 
to  exchange  French  prisoners  for  Russians. 

"  What,"  exclaimed  Napoleon,  "  do  you  refuse  to  liberate 
the  Russians,  who  were  your  allies,  who  were  fighting  in  your 
ranks  and  undci-  your  connnanders  ?  Do  you  rei'use  to  re- 
store to  their  country  those  men  to  whom  you  aic  indebted 
for  your  victories  and  conquests  in  Italy,  and  who  have  left  in 


THE      REIGN      OF     PAUL      I.  4G7 

youv  liands  a  mullitude  of  Freneli  prisoners  wlioiu  iliey  liave 
taken  ?     Such  injustice  excites  my  indignation." 

With  chai'acterislic  uiagnanimity  he  added,  "  I  will  re- 
store them  to  the  tzar  without  exchange.  He  shall  see  how 
I  esteem  brave  men." 

These  Russian  prisoners  were  assendiled  at  Aix  la  Clia- 
pelle.  They  were  all  furnished  witli  a  complete  suit  of  new 
clothing,  in  the  uniform  of  their  own  regiments,  and  were 
thoroughly  supplied  with  weapons  of  the  best  French  manu- 
tlicture.  And  thus  they  were  returned  to  their  homes.  Paul 
was  exactly  in  that  mood  of  mind  which  best  enabled  him  to 
appieeiate  such  a  deed.  He  at  once  abandoned  the  alliance, 
and  with  liis  own  hand  wrote  to  Xapoleon  as  follows : 

"  Citizen  First  Consul, — I  do  not  write  to  you  to  discuss 
the  rights  of  men  or  of  citizens.  Every  country  governs  itself 
as  it  pleases.  Whenever  I  see,  at  the  head  of  a  nation,  a  man 
who  knows  how  to  rule  and  how  to  fight;  my  heart  is  at- 
tracted towards  him.  I  wiite  to  acquaint  you  with  my  dis- 
satisfaction with  England,  wlio  violates  every  article  of  the 
law  of  nations  and  has  no  guide  but  her  egotism  and  her  in- 
terest. I  wish  to  unite  with  you  to  put  an  end  to  the  unjust 
proceedings  of  that  government." 

P^riendly  relations  were  immediately  established  between 
France  and  Russia,  and  they  exchanged  embassadors.  Paul 
had  conferred  an  annual  pension  of  two  lnmdred  tliousand 
rubles  (about  8150,000)  upon  the  Count  of  Provence,  subse- 
quently Louis  XVin.,  and  had  given  him  an  asylum  at  Mittan. 
He  now  withdrew  that  pension  and  protection.  He  induced 
the  King  of  Denmark  to  forbid  the  English  fleet  from  passing 
tlie  Sound,  wdiicli  led  into  the  Baltic  Sea,  engaging,  should 
the  English  attempt  to  force  the  passage,  to  send  a  fleet  of 
twenty-one  ships  to  assist  the  Danes.  The  battle  of  Hohen- 
lindeii  anil  the  ])('ace  of  Luneville  detached  Austria  from  the 
coalition,  and  p]iiglan<l  was  left  to  struggle  alone  against  llu' 
new  opiiiicMis  in  France. 


468  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

The  nobles  of  Russia,  harmonizing  with  the  aristocracy  ot 
Europe,  were  quite  dissatisfied  witli  this  alliance  between  Ilus 
sia  and  France.  Though  the  form  of  the  republic  was  changed 
to  that  of  the  consulate,  they  saw  that  the  principles  of  popular 
liberty  reniahied  unchanged  in  France.  The  wife  of  Paul  and 
her  children,  victims  of  the  inexplicable  caprice  of  the  tzar, 
lived  in  constant  constraint  and  fear.  The  empress  had  three 
sons — Alexander,  Constantine  and  Nicholas.  The  heir  appar- 
ent, Alexander,  was  watched  with  the  most  rigorous  scrutiny, 
and  was  exposed  to  a  thousand  mortifications.  The  suspicious 
father  became  the  jailer  of  his  son,  examining  all  his  corre- 
spondence, and  superintending  his  mode  of  life  in  its  minutest 
details.  The  most  whimsical  and  annoying  orders  were  issued, 
which  rendered  life,  in  the  vicinity  of  the  court,  almost  a  bur- 
den. The  army  officers  were  forbidden  to  attend  evening  par- 
ties lest  they  should  be  too  weary  for  morning  parade.  Every 
one  who  passed  the  imperial  palace,  even  in  the  most  inclement 
weather,  was  compelled  to  go  with  head  uncovered.  The 
enforcement  of  his  arbitrary  measures  rendered  the  interven- 
tion of  the  troops  often  necessary.  The  palace  was  so  fortified 
and  guarded  as  to  resemble  a  prison.  St.  Petersburg,  filled 
with  the  machinery  of  war,  presented  the  aspect  of  a  city  be- 
sietyed.  Every  one  was  exposed  to  arrest.  Xo  one  was  sure 
of  passing  the  night  in  tranquillity,  there  were  so  many  domi- 
ciliary visits;  and  many  persons,  silently  arrested,  disappeared 
without  it  ever  being  known  what  became  of  them.  Spies 
moved  about  everywhere,  and  their  number  was  infinite. 
Paul  thus  enlisted  against  himself  the  animosity  of  all  classes 
of  his  subjects — his  own  family,  foreigners,  the  court,  the 
nobles  and  the  bourgeois.  Such  were  the  influences  which 
originated  the  conspiracy  which  resulted  in  the  assassination 
of  the  tzar. 


CHAPTER     XXIX. 

ASSASSINATION   OF   PAUL   AND   ACCESSION    OP  ALEXxVNDER. 

Feoh  1801  TO  1807. 

AssASSiNATiox  OP  Paul  I. — Implicatiox  of  Alexanukr  in  the  Conspiracy. — Anec- 
dotes.—  .\CCESSION  OK  ALEXANnKP.. — TllE  FuBNClI  KeVOLUTION. — ALEX.A.NI)ER  JoISS 

THE  Allies  AGAINST  Fkanck. — State  or  llussiA. — Useful  Measures  of  Alexan- 
DEU. — Peace  of  Amiens. — Renewal  of  Hostilities. — Battle  of  Austerlitz. — 
Magnani.mity  of  Napoleon. — New  Coalition. — A.mbition  of  Alexander. — Bat- 
tles OF  Jena  and  Eylau. — Defeat  op  the  Russians. 

WE  have  belore  mentioned  tliat  Paul  I.  had  three  sons — 
Alexander,  Conslantine  and  Nicholas.  The  eldest  of 
these,  Alexander,  was  a  very  promising  young  man,  of  popular 
character,  twenty-three  years  of  age.  His  lather  feared  his 
popularity  and  treated  him  with  the  gi-eatest  severity,  and 
was  now  threatening  him  and  his  mother  with  imprisonment. 
General  Pahlen,  governor  of  St.  Petersburg,  obtained  the 
conlidence  of  the  young  prince,  and  urged  upon  iiim,  as  a 
necessary  measure  of  selt-defense,  that  he  should  place  him- 
self at  the  head  of  a  conspiracy  for  tlie  dethronement  of  his 
insane  father.  The  sufferings  of  the  young  prince  wei-e  so 
severe  and  his  perils  so  great,  and  the  desire  for  a  change  so 
universal  throughout  the  empire,  that  it  was  not  found  diffi- 
cult to  enlist  him  in  the  enterprise.  Alexander  consented  to 
tlie  dethronement  of  his  father,  but  with  the  express  condition 
tiiat  his  life  sliould  be  spared.  He  might  perhaps  have  flat- 
tered liiinself  witli  tlie  belief  that  this  could  be  done  ;  but 
the  conspirators  knew  full  well  tliat  the  dagger  of  the  assassin 
was  the  only  instrument  which  could  remove  Paul  from  the 
tin  one.  The  con.sj)iracy  was  very  extensive,  embracing  nearly 
all  the  fimctionaries  of  the  government  at  St.  Petcr.sbuig,  the 


470  THE     EMPIRE      OP     RUSSIA. 

entire  senate,  and  the  diplomatic  corps.  All  the  ])rinci))al 
officers  of  the  royal  guard,  with  their  colonel  at  their  head, 
W(;re  included  in  the  }>lot.  The  hour  ibr  the  execution  of  the 
conspiracy  was  tixed  for  the  night  of  the  23d  of  March,  1801. 

A  regiment  devoted  to  the  conspirators  was  that  night  on 
guard  at  the  palace.  The  confederates  who  were  to  execute 
the  plot,  composed  of  the  most  distinguished  men  in  the  court 
and  the  army,  met  at  the  house  of  Prince  Talitzin  ostensibly 
tor  a  supper.  With  wine  and  wassail  they  nerved  themselves 
lor  the  desperate  deed.  Just  at  midnight  a  select  number 
entered  the  garden  of  the  palace,  by  a  private  gate,  and  steal- 
ing silently  along,  beneath  the  trees,  approached  a  portal 
which  was  left  unban-ed  and  undefended.  One  of  the  guard- 
ians of  the  palace  led  their  steps  and  conducted  them  to  an 
apartment  adjoining  that  in  which  the  tzar  slept,  A  single 
hussar  guarded  the  door.  He  was  instantly  struck  down,  and 
the  conspirators  in  a  body  rushed  into  the  royal  chamber, 

Paul  sprang  from  his  bed,  and  seizing  his  sword,  endea- 
vored to  escape  by  another  door  than  that  through  which  the 
consj)irators  entered.  Foiled  in  this  attempt,  in  the  darkness, 
for  all  lights  had  been  extinguished,  he  hid  himself  behind  a 
movable  screen,  lie  was  however  soon  seized,  lights  were 
brought  in,  and  an  act  of  abdication  was  read  to  him  which 
he  was  required  to  sign.  The  intrepid  tzar  sprang  at  Zou- 
bow,  who  was  reading  the  act,  and  cufled  his  ears.  A  strug- 
gle immediately  ensued,  and  an  officer's  sash  was  passed 
around  the  neck  of  the  monarch,  and  after  a  desperate  resist- 
ance he  was  strangled.  The  dress  of  one  of  the  conspirators 
caused  him  to  be  mistaken,  by  the  emperor,  for  his  son  Con- 
stantine,  and  the  last  words  which  the  wretched  sovereign 
uttered  were,  "And  you  too,  Constantine." 

The  two  grand  dukes,  Alexander  and  Constantine,  were 
in  the  room  below,  and  heard  all  the  noise  of  the  struggle  in 
which  their  I'ather  was  assassinated.  It  was  with  much  difH- 
culty  that  these  young   princes   were  induced  to  give  their 


ASSASSINATION      OF     PAUL.  471 

consent  to  the  conspiracy,  and  they  yielded  only  on  condition 
that  their  lather's  life  should  be  spared.  But  yelf  defense  re- 
quired some  vigorous  action  on  their  part,  lor  Paul  had 
threatened  to  send  Alexandei"  to  Siberia,  to  ininiure  Cuustan- 
tiue  in  a  cunvent,  and  the  empress  mother  in  a  cloistei'. 

The  conspirators  having  accomplished  the  deed,  descended 
into  the  apartment,  where  the  grand  dukes  were  awaiting 
their  return.  Alexander  enquired  eagerly  it'  they  had  saved 
liis  lather's  lite.  The  silence  of  the  conspirators  told  the  mel- 
ancholy tale.  The  grief  manifested  by  both  Alexander  and 
Coustantine  was  apparently  sincere  and  intense.  In  pas- 
sionate exclamations  they  gave  vent  to  sorrow  and  remorse. 
But  Pahlen,  the  governor,  who  had  led  the  conspiracy,  calm 
and  collected,  represented  that  the  interests  of  the  emjjire 
demanded  a  change  of  policy,  that  the  death  of  Paul  was  a 
fatality,  and  that  nothing  now  I'eraained  but  for  Alexander 
to  assume  the  reins  of  government. 

"I  shall  be  accused,"  exclaimed  Alexander  bitterly,  "of 
being  the  assassin  of  my  father.  You  [)romised  me  not  to  at 
tempt  his  lite.     I  am  the  most  unhappy  man  in  the  world." 

The  dead  body  of  the  emperor  was  placed  upon  a  table, 
and  an  English  physician,  named  Wylie,  was  called  in  to  ai"- 
range  the  features  so  that  it  should  appear  that  he  had  died 
of  apoplexy.  The  judgment  of  the  world  has  ever  been  and 
probably  ever  will  be  divided  respecting  the  nature  of  Alexan- 
der's complicity  in  this  murder.  Many  suppose  that  he  could 
not  have  been  ignorant  that  the  death  of  his  father  was  the 
inevitable  end  of  the  conspiracy,  and  that  he  accepted  that 
result  as  a  sad  necessity.  Certain  it  is  that  the  conspirators 
were  all  rewarded  richly,  by  being  entrusted  with  the  chief 
offices  of  the  state;  and  the  new  monarch  surrounded  his 
throne  with  counselors  whose  hands  were  imbrued  in  his 
fathci-'s  lilood.  A  lady  at  St.  Petersl)urg  wrote  to  Fouche 
on  the  occasion  of  some  ceremony  which  soon  ensued, 

"  Tlic  young  emperor  walked  preceded  by  the  assassins 


472  THE      EMPIRE      OF      EUSSIA. 

of  his  grandfather,  followed  by  tliose  of  his  father,  and  sur- 
rounded by  his  own." 

"  Behold,"  said  Fouche,  "  a  woman  who  speaks  Tacitus." 
At  St.  Helena,  O'Meara  enquired  of  Napoleon  if  he 
lliought  that  t*au]  had  been  insane.  "Latterly,"  Napoleon 
1  ephed,  "  I  believe  that  he  was.  At  first  he  was  strongly 
prejudiced  against  the  Revolution,  and  every  person  con- 
cerned in  it ;  but  afteiwardj  I  had  rendered  him  reasonable, 
and  liad  changed  iiis  opinions  altogether.  If  Paul  had  lived 
the  English  would  have  lost  India  before  now.  An  agree- 
ment was  made  between  Paul  and  myself  to  invade  it.  I 
furnished  the  plan.  I  was  to  have  sent  thirty  thousand  good 
troops.  He  was  to  send  a  similar  number  of  the  best  Ilus- 
isian  soldiers,  and  forty  thousand  Cossacks.  I  was  to  sub- 
scribe ten  millions  for  the  pui'chase  of  camels  and  other  req- 
uisites for  crossing  the  desert.  The  King  of  Prussia  was  to 
have  been  applied  to  by  both  of  us  to  grant  a  passage  for  my 
troops  through  his  dominions,  w  liich  would  have  been  imme- 
diately granted.  I  had,  at  the  same  time,  made  a  demand  to 
the  King  of  Persia  ibr  a  passage  through  his  country,  which 
would  also  have  been  granted,  although  the  negotiations  were 
not  entii-ely  concluded,  but  would  have  succeeded,  as  the  Per- 
sians were  desirious  of  profiting  by  it  themselves."* 

On  another  occasion,  speaking  upon  this  same  subject, 
Naj)oleon  said  to  Las  Casas,  "Paul  had  been  jjroniised  Malta 
the  moment  it  was  taken  possession  of  by  the  English.  Malta 
reduced,  the  English  ministers  denied  that  they  had  prom- 
ised it  to  him.  It  is  confidently  stated  that,  on  the  reading  ot 
this  >hameliil  falsehood,  Paul  felt  so  indignant  that,  seizing  the 
dispatch  in  full  council,  he  ran  his  sword  through  it,  and  or- 
dered it  to  be  sent  back,  in  that  condition,  by  way  of  answer. 
If  this  be  a  folly,  it  must  be  allowed  that  it  is  the  folly  of  a 
noble  soul.  It  is  tlie  indignation  ol"  virtue,  which  was  incapa- 
ble until  then  of  suspecting  such  baseness. 

*  "Napoleon  at  St.  Helena,"  p.  534. 


ACCKSSION      OF     ALEXANDER.  4*73 

"At  llie  same  time  the  Englisli  miiiistei>,  trcnling  witli  us 
for  the  exchange  of  prisoners,  rel'used  to  inchide  tlie  Russian 
prisoners  talcen  in  Holland,  wlio  wei'e  in  the  actual  service  and 
fought  for  the  sole  cause  of  the  English.  I  had  hit  ujioii  the 
bent  of  Paul's  character.  I  seized  time  by  the  ibrelock.  I 
collected  these  Russians.  I  clothed  them  and  sent  them  back 
witliout  any  expense.  From  that  instant  that  geueioiis  heart 
was  altogether  devoted  to  me,  and,  as  I  had  no  interest  in 
opposition  to  Russia,  and  shouhl  never  have  spoken  or  acted 
but  with  justice,  there  is  no  doubt  that  I  should  have  been 
enabled,  for  the  future,  to  dispose  of  the  cabinet  of  St.  Peters- 
burg. Our  enemies  were  sensible  of  the  danger,  and  it  has 
been  thought  that  this  good-will  of  Paul  proved  fatal  to  him. 
It  might  well  have  been  the  case,  for  there  are  cabinets  with 
whom  noth'ng  is  sacred." 

The  death  of  Paul  brought  the  enemies  of  France  and  the 
friends  of  England  into  power  at  St.  Petersburg.  The  new 
emperor,  the  Hrst  day  after  his  accession  to  the  throne,  issued 
a  proclamation  declaring  his  intention  to  follow  in  the  foot- 
steps of  liis  grandmother,  Catharine.  He  liberated  all  the 
English  sailors  whom  Paul  had  taken  from  the  ships  laid  under 
sequestration.  All  the  decrees  against  the  free  importation 
of  English  merchandise  were  abolished;  and  the  young  eni- 
j)eror  soon  wrote,  with  his  own  hand,  a  letter  to  the  King  of 
England,  expressing  his  earnest  desire  again  to  establish 
friendly  relations  between  the  courts  of  Russia  and  England, 
This  (leclaialion  was  received  in  London  with  shouts  of  joy. 

Alexander  was  twenty-three  years  of  age  when  he  ascended 
the  throne.  A  Swiss,  by  the  name  of  Laharpe,  a  man  of  great 
intelligence  ami  lofty  spirit,  and  a  republican  in  principle,  had 
been  for  many  years  the  prominent  tutor  of  the  young  prince, 
and  had  obtained  a  great  conti'ol  over  liis  mind.  The  instiuc- 
titms  of  Lahai-pe,  who  wislied  to  make  a  Wasliington  of  his 
]iuijil,  weie  much  counteracted  by  tlie  despotic  lessons  he  had 
leceived  from  Catharine,  and  by  the  luxury,  servility  and  cor- 


474  THE     EMPIRE     OF     RUSSIA. 

luptiuii  wliich  crowded  the  Russi.vn  coiiit.  Naturally  amiahle, 
and  possessed  of  by  no  means  a  strong  cliaracter,  the  young 
monarch  was  easily  moulded  by  the  influences  which  sui- 
luunded  him.  He  evidently  commenced  his  reign  with  the 
best  intentions,  resolved,  in  every  way,  to  promote  the  pros- 
perity of  his  subjects.  It  is  painful  to  observe  the  almost 
inevitable  tendency  of  power  to  deprave  the  soul.  History  is 
filled  with  the  records  of  those  sovereigns  who  have  fallen 
from  virtue  to  vice. 

The  commencement  of  the  reign  of  Alexander  was  hailed 
with  general  joy.  All  his  first  proclamations  breathe  the 
simit  of  benevolence,  of  generosit)^,  of  tlie  desire  to  ameliorate 
the  condition  of  the  oppressed  millions.  The  ridiculous  ordin- 
ances which  Paul  had  issued  were  promptly  abrogated.  By 
a  special  edict  all  Russians  were  permitted  to  dress  as  they 
pleased,  to  wear  twilled  waistcoats  and  pantaloons,  instead  of 
sliort  clothes,  if  they  preferred  them.  They  were  permitted  to 
wea,r  round  hats,  to  lead  dogs  with  a  leash,  and  to  fasten  their 
shoes  with  strings  instead  of  buckles.  A  large  number  of 
exiles,  whom  Paul  had  sent  to  KSiberia,  were  recalled,  and 
many  of  the  most  burdensome  requirements  of  etiquette,  in 
the  court,  were  annulled. 

Though  Alexander  was  an  absolute  monarch,  who  could 
issue  any  decree,  subject  to  no  restraint,  he  conferred  upon 
the  senate  the  power  to  revise  these  decrees,  and  to  suggest 
any  amendment ;  and  he  also  created  a  legislature  who  were 
l)ermitted  to  advise  respecting  any  regulations  which  they 
might  think  promotive  of  the  interests  of  the  empire.  The 
will  of  the  emperor  was,  however,  absolute  and  unchecked. 
Slill  the  a))pointment  of  these  deliberative  and  advising  bodies 
was  considered  an  immense  stride  towards  constitutional  free- 
dom. The  censorship  of  the  press  was  greatly  mitigated,  and 
foreign  books  and  journals  were  more  freely  introduced  to  the 
empire. 

Two  new  ministries  were  established  by  Alexander,  with 


ACCESSION      OF     ALEXANDER.  475 

extensive  responsibilities — the  Miuistry  of  the  lutenor,  and 
tiiat  of  Public  Instruction.  All  the  officers  of  government 
were  rendered  uccountable  to  the  senate,  and  lesponsible  to 
the  sovereign.  These  elements  of  accountability  and  of  re- 
sponsibility had  hitherto  been  almost  unknown  in  llussia. 
Charitable  institutions  were  established,  and  schools  of  ditier- 
ent  grades,  tor  the  instruction  of  all  classes  of  the  people. 
AnibiLiuus  of  rendering  the  Russian  court  as  brilliant  in  all 
tlie  appliances  of  luxury  and  art  as  any  court  in  Europe,  the 
emperor  was  indefatigable  in  the  collection  of  paintings,  stat- 
uary, medals  and  all  artistic  curiosities.  The  contrast  thus  be- 
came very  marked  between  the  semi-barbarism  of  the  provinces 
and  the  enlightenment  and  voluptuousness  of  the  capital. 

It  is  worthy  of  remark  that  when  Alexander  ascended 
the  throne  there  did  not  exist  in  all  Russia,  not  even  in  St.  Pe- 
tersburg, a  single  book-store.'"  The  Russian  sovereigns  had 
wished  to  take  from  civilization  only  that  which  would  add  to 
their  despotic  power.  Desiring  to  perpetuate  the  monopoly 
of  autliority,  they  sought  to  retain  in  their  own  hands  the 
privileges  of  instruction.  The  impulse  which  Alexander  had 
given  to  the  cause  of  education  spread  throughout  the  empire, 
a.nd  the  nobles,  in  the  distant  provinces,  interested  themselves 
in  establishing  schools.  These  schools  were,  however,  very 
exclusive  in  their  character,  admitting  none  but  the  children 
of  tiie  nobles.  The  military  schools  which  Catharine  had  es- 
tablished, with  so  much  care,  Alexander  encouraged  and  sup- 
ported With  the  utmost  assiduity. 

As  Catliarine  II.  had  endeavored  to  obliterate  every  trace 
of  the  government  of  her  murdered  husband,  Peter  III.,  so 
Alexander  strove  to  ett'ace  all  vestiges  of  his  assassinated 
father,  Paul.  He  entered  into  tiie  closest  alliance  with  En- 
gland, and  manifested  much  eagerness  in  his  desire  to  giatify 

*  Ilishire  I'lulosophique  ei  FolUique  de  liussie,  Dcpuis  les  Temps  Ics  J'Uis 
Eeculcs  jusqu'au  nos  Jours.  Par  J.  Esncaux  el  Chenec/iot.  Tome  cinquicme, 
p.  203. 


476  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

all  the  wishes  of  the  cabinet  of  St.  James.  He  even  went  so 
far  as  to  consent  to  pay  a  sum  of  eight  hundred  thoiis.-md 
rubles  (8000,000),  as  an  indemnity  to  England  for  the  lo^^s 
the  English  merchants  had  incurred  by  the  embargo  placed 
by  Paul  upon  theii-  ships.  Every  day  the  partiality  of  tlie 
young  emperor  lor  England  became  more  manifest.  In  the 
mt'iuitime  Napoleon  was  unwearied  in  his  endeavors  to  secure 
the  good-will  of  a  monarch  whose  sword  would  have  so  im- 
portant an  influence  in  settling  the  quarrel  between  aristoc- 
racy and  democracy  which  then  agitated  EurojDO.  Napoleon 
was  so  far  successful  that,  on  the  8th  of  October,  1801,  a  treaty 
of  Irieiidly  alliance  was  signed  at  Paris  between  France  and 
llussia.  The  battle  of  Marengo  had  compelled  Austria  to 
withdraw  from  the  coalition  against  France;  and  the  peace 
of  Luneville,  which  Napoleon  signed  with  Austria  in  Febiauuy, 
1801,  tbllowed  by  peace  with  Spain  and  Naples  in  Mai'ch,  with 
the  pope  in  July,  with  Bavaria  in  August  and  with  Portugal 
in  September,  left  England  to  struggle  alone  against  those 
republican  principles  which  in  the  eyes  of  aristocratic  Europe 
seemed  ecpially  obnoxious  whether  moulded  under  the  form 
of  the  republic,  the  consulate  or  the  empire. 

The  English  cabinet,  thus  left  to  struggle  alone,  was  com- 
pelled, though  very  reluctantly,  by  the  murmurs  of  the  Biilish 
j>eople,  to  consent  to  peace  with  France  ;  and  the  treaty  of 
Amiens,  which  restored  peace  to  entire  Europe,  was  signed  in 
March,  1802.  A  few  days  after  this  event,  peace  was  signed 
with  Turkey,  and  thus  through  the  sagacity  and  energy  of 
Nap(jleon,  every  hostile  sword  was  sheathed  in  Europe  and 
on  the  confines  of  Asia.  But  the  treaty  of  Amiens  was  a 
sore  humiliation  to  the  cabinet  of  St.  James,  and  hardly  a 
year  had  elapsed  ere  the  British  government,  in  May,  1803, 
again  drew  the  sword,  and  all  Europe  was  again  involved  in 
war.  It  was  a  war,  ^aid  William  Pitt  truly,  '•  of  armed  opin- 
ions." 

The  llussian  embassador  at  Paris,  M.  Marcow,  who  imder 


ACCESSION      OF      AT.  EXAXDER.  477 

Catharino  II.  had  shown  liimst'If  bitterly  hostile  to  the  French 
republic,  was  declai-ed  to  be  guilty  of  eiiteiiiig  into  intrigues 
to  assist  the  English,  now  making  war  upon  France,  and  he 
was  ordered  immediately  to  leave  the  kingdom.  Alexander 
did  not  resent  this  act,  so  ol)viously  proper,  but  rewaided  the 
dismissed  minister  with  an  annual  })ension  of  twelve  thousauvl 
rubles  (^9,000). 

Duiing  this  short  interval  of  peace  Alexander  was  raising 
an  army  of  five  hundred  thousand  men,  to  extend  and  consoli- 
date his  dominions  on  the  side  of  Turkey.  His  frontiers  there 
were  dindy  defined,  and  his  authoiity  but  feebly  exerted.  lie 
pushed  his  armies  into  Georgia  and  took  firm  possession  of 
that  vast  province  extending  between  the  Black  Sea  and  the 
Caspian,  and  embracing  some  eighteen  thousand  square  miles. 
At  the  same  time  the  blasts  of  his  bugles  were  heard  i-ever- 
berating  through  the  defiles  of  the  Balkan,  and  his  fortresses 
were  reared  and  his  banners  planted  there.  The  monarchs  of 
Russia,  for  many  generations,  had  fixed  a  wistful  eye  upon 
Constantinople,  but  no  one  had  coveted  the  possession  of  that 
important  city  so  intensely  as  now  did  Alexander.  "  Con- 
stantinople," said  he  often,  "•  is  the  key  of  my  liouse." 

The  ari'est  of  the  Duke  d'Enghien,  in  the  territory  of  the 
Duke  of  Baden,  and  his  execution  as  a  traitor  for  being  in 
amis  against  liis  own  country,  excited  the  indignation  of 
Alexander.  Napoleon,  immeiliately  after  the  arrest,  had 
made  an  apology  to  the  Duke  of  Baden  for  the  violation  of 
a  neutral  territory,  and  this  apology  was  accepted  by  the 
duke  as  satisfactory.  Nevertheless,  Alexander  through  his 
embassador,  sent  the  following  message  to  the  court  of  the 
First  Consul : 

"The  Emperor  Alexander,  as  mediator  and  guarantee  of 
the  continental  peace,  has  notified  the  States  of  the  German 
empii-e  that  lu;  considers  the  action  of  the  First  Consul  as 
endangering  their  safi.-t  y  and  independence,  an<l  that  he  does 
not  diiubt  tiiat  the  First  Consul  will  take  promvit  measures  to 


478  THE      EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

reassure  those  governments  by    giving  satisfactory  explana- 
tions." 

Napoleon  regarded  this  interference  of  Alexander  as  im- 
pertinent, and  caused  his  minister  to  reply, 

"What  would  Alexander  have  said  if  the  First  Consul 
had  imperiously  demanded  explanations  respecting  the  mur- 
der of  Paul  I.,  and  had  pretended  to  constitute  himselt  an 
avengei-?  How  is  it,  that  when  the  sovereign  of  the  teiii- 
toiy,  which  it  is  said  has  been  violated,  makes  no  complaint; 
when  all  the  princes,  his  neighbors  and  his  allies,  are  silent — 
liow  is  it  that  the  Emperor  of  Russia,  least  of  all  interested 
in  the  aftair,  i-aises  his  voice  alone?  Does  it  not  arise  from 
complicity  Avith  England,  that  machinator  of  conspiracies 
against  the  power  and  the  life  of  the  First  Consul?  Is  not 
Russia  engaged  in  similar  conspiracies  at  Rome,  at  Dresden 
and  at  Paris?  If  Russia  desires  war,  why  does  she  not 
frnrdcly  say  so,  instead  of  endeavoring  to  secure  that  end 
indirectly  ?" 

In  May  of  1804,  Najioleon  assumed  the  imperial  title. 
Alexander,  denjdng  the  right  of  the  people  to  elect  their 
own  sovereign,  lefused  to  recognize  the  empire.  Hence  in- 
creasing irritation  arose.  England,  trembling  in  view  of  the 
camp  at  Boulogne,  I'oused  all  her  energies  to  rallv  Europe  to 
strike  France  in  the  rear.  In  this  effort  she  was  signally  suc- 
cessful. Russia,  Sweden,  Austria,  Turkey  antl  Rome,  were 
engaged  in  vigorous  cooperation  with  England  against  France. 
Holland,  Switzerland  and  Bavaria  ranged  themselves  on  the 
side  of  Napoleon, 

On  the  8th  of  September,  1805,  the  armiL'S  of  Austria  and 
Russia  Avere  on  the  march  for  France,  and  the  Austrian  troops, 
in  overwhelming  numbers,  invaded  Bavaria.  Napoleon  was 
prejjared  for  the  blow.  The  camp  at  Boulogne  was  broken 
np,  and  his  troops  were  instantly  on  the  march  towards  the 
Rhine.  In  the  marvelous  campaign  of  Uhn  tlie  Austi-ian 
army  was  crushed,  almost  amiihilated,  and  the  victorious  Itat- 


ACCESSIOX      OF     ALEXANDKR.  479 

talions  of  Xapoleou  inarched  resistlessly  to  Vienna.  Alex- 
ander, Avith  a  vast  army,  was  hurrying  forward,  by  forced 
marches,  to  assist  his  Austrian  ally.  At  OIniutz  he  met  the 
Emperor  of  Austria  on  the  retreat  with  thirty  thousand  men, 
the  wreck  of  that  magnificent  army  with  which  he  had  com- 
menced his  march  upon  France.  Here  the  two  armies  formed 
a  junction — seventy  thousand  Russians  receiving  into  their 
ranks  thirty  thousand  Austrians.  The  two  emperors,  Alex- 
ander and  Francis,  rode  at  the  head  of  this  formidable  force. 

On  the  1st  of  December,  Napoleon,  leading  an  army  of 
seventy  thousand  men,  encountered  these,  his  coinbin(;d  foes, 
on  the  jdains  of  Austerlitz.  "  To-morrow,"  said  he,  "  before 
nightfall,  that  army  shall  be  mine !"  A  day  <jf  carnage,  such 
as  war  has  seldom  seen,  ensued.  From  an  eminence  the  Em- 
perors of  Russia  and  Austria  witnessed  the  destruction  of  their 
hosts.  No  language  can  describe  the  tumult  which  pervaded 
the  ranks  of  the  retreating  foe.  The  Russians,  wild  with  dis- 
may, rent  the  skies  with  their  barbaric  shouts,  and  wreaked 
their  vengeance  upon  all  the  helpless  villages  they  encountered 
in  their  path. 

Francis,  the  Emperor  of  Austria,  utterly  ruined,  sought 
an  interview  with  his  conqueror,  and  implored  peace.  Napo- 
leon, as  ever,  was  magnanimous,  and  was  eager  to  sheathe  the 
sword  which  he  had  only  drawn  in  self  defense.  Francis  en- 
deavoretl  to  throw  the  blame  of  the  war  upon  England. 

"  Tile  English,"  said  he,  "are  a  nation  of  merchants.  To 
secure  for  themselves  the  connnerce  of  the  world  tliey  are 
willing  to  set  the  continent  in  ilanies!" 

The  Austrian  monarch,  having  obtained  very  ilivorable 
terms  for  himself,  interceded  for  Alexander.  "The  Russian 
army,"  Napoleon  replied,  "is  surrounded.  Not  a  man  can 
escape  me.  If,  however,  your  majesty  will  promise  me  that 
Alexander  shall  immcdialely  retuiri  to  Russia,  I  will  stop  the 
advance  of  my  columns." 

The  pledge   was  given,  and   Napoleon  then  sent  General 


480  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

Savaiy  to  tlie  liead-quaiters  of  Alexander,  to  inquire  if  he 
would  ratify  the  armistice. 

"  I  am  happy  to  see  you,"  said  the  emperor  to  the  envoy. 
"  Tiie  occasion  has  been  very  glorious  for  your  arms.  That 
day  will  take  nothing  from  tiie  rej^utation  your  master  has 
earned  in  so  many  battles.  It  was  ray  first  engagement.  I 
confess  that  the  rapidity  of  his  maneuvers  gave  me  no  time 
to  succor  the  menaced  points.  Everywhere  you  were  at  h-ast 
double  the  number  of  our  forces." 

"  Sire,"  Savary  replied,  "  our  force  was  twenty-five  thou- 
sand less  than  yours.  And  even  of  that  the  whole  was  not 
very  warmly  engaged.  But  we  maneuvered  much,  and  the 
same  division  combated  at  several  different  points.  Therein 
lies  the  art  of  war.  The  emperor,  who  has  seen  forty  pitched 
battles,  is  never  wanting  in  that  particular.  He  is  still  ready 
to  march  against  the  Archduke  Charles,  if  your  majesty  does 
not  accept  the  armistice." 

"  What  guarantee  does  your  master  require,"  continued 
Alexander,  "and  what  security  can  I  have  that  your  troops 
will  not  prosecute  their  movements  against  me  ?" 

"  He  asks  only  your  word  of  honor,"  Savary  replied. 
"  He  has  instructed  me  the  moment  it  is  given  to  sus^Dend  the 
pursuit." 

"I  give  it  with  pleasure,"  rejoined  the  emperor,  "and 
should  it  ever  be  your  fortune  to  visit  St.  Petersburg,  I  hope 
that  I  may  be  able  to  render  my  capital  agreeable  to  you." 

Hostilities  immediately  ceased,  and  the  broken  columns 
of  the  Russian  troops  returned  to  their  homes.  The  Austro- 
Russian  army,  in  the  disastrous  day  of  Austerlitz,  lost  in  killed, 
wounded  and  prisoners,  over  forty  thousand  men.  It  is  stated 
that  Alexander,  when  flying  from  the  bloody  field  with  his  dis- 
comfited troops,  his  path  being  strewed  with  the  wounded  and 
the  dead,  posted  placards  along  the  route,  with  the  inscription, 

"  I  commend  my  unfortunate  soldiers  to  the  generosity  of 
the  Emperor  Napoleon  !" 


ACCESSION      OF      ALEXANDER.  -i81 

AlexaudiT,  young  and  ambitious,  was  very  much  clmgiincd 
by  this  utter  discomtiture.  Austerlitz  was  his  tirst  battle ; 
and  instead  of  covering  him  with  renown  it  had  overwhehned 
him  with  disgrace.  He  was  anxious  for  an  opportunity  to 
wipe  away  the  stain.  A  new  coalition  was  soon  formed  against 
France,  consisting  of  Enghuid,  Russia,  Prussia  and  Sweden. 
Alexander  eagerly  entered  into  this  coaUtion,  hoping  for  an 
opportunity  to  acquire  that  military  fame  which,  in  this  lost 
world,  has  been  ever  deemed  so  essential  to  the  reputation  of 
a  sovereign.  The  remonstrance  of  Napoleon,  with  Russia, 
was  noble  and  unanswerable. 

"  Why,"  said  he,  "  should  hostilities  arise  between  France 
and  Russia?  Perfectly  independent  of  each  other,  they  are 
impotent  to  inflict  evil,  but  all-powerful  to  communicate  bene- 
fits. If  the  Emperor  of  France  exercises  a  great  influence  in 
Italy,  the  tzar  exerts  a  still  greater  influence  over  Turkey  and 
Persia.  If  the  cabinet  of  Russia  pretends  to  have  a  right  to 
aftix  limits  to  the  power  of  France,  without  doubt  it  is  equally 
disposed  to  allow  the  Emperor  of  the  Fi-ench  to  prescribe  the 
bounds  beyond  which  Russia  is  not  to  pass.  Russia  has  par- 
titioned Poland.  Can  she  then  complain  that  France  possesses 
Belgium  and  the  left  banks  of  the  Rhine  ?  Russia  has  seized 
upon  the  Crimea,  the  Caucasus,  and  the  northern  provhices  of 
Persia.  Can  she  deny  that  the  right  of  self-preservation  gives 
France  a  right  to  demand  an  equivalent  in  Europe  ? 

"  Let  every  power  begin  by  restoring  the  conquests  which 
it  has  made  during  the  last  fifty  years.  Let  them  reestablish 
Poland,  restore  Venice  to  its  senate,  Trinidad  to  Spain,  Cey- 
lon to  Holland,  the  Crimea  to  the  Porte,  the  Caucasus  and 
Georgia  to  Persia,  the  kingdom  of  Mysore  to  the  sons  of 
Tii)poo  Sail),  and  tiie  iMnhratta  States  to  their  lawful  owners; 
and  then  the  other  powers  may  have  some  title  to  insist  that 
France  shall  letire  within  her  ancient  limits.  It  is  the  fishion 
to  speak  of  the  aml)ition  of  France.  Had  she  chosen  to  jirc- 
servc  l>er  conquests,  th<'  h.ilfof  Austria,  the  VeuL'tian  States, 


482  THE     EMPIRE     OF      RUSSIA. 

the  States  of  Holland  and  Switzerland  and  the  kingdom  of 
Naples  would  have  been  in  her  possession.  The  limits  of 
France  are,  in  reality,  the  Adige  and  the  Rhine.  Has  it 
passed  either  of  these  limits?  Plad  it  fixed  on  the  Solza  and 
tl>e  Drave,  it  would  not  have  exceeded  the  bounds  of  its  con- 
quests." 

In  September,  1806,  the  Prussian  army,  two  hundred 
thousand  strong,  commenced  their  march  for  the  invasion  of 
France.  Alexander  had  also  marshaled  his  barbarian  legions 
and  was  eagerly  following,  with  two  hundred  thousand  of  the 
most  highly  disciplined  Russian  troops  in  his  train.  Napoleon 
contemplated  with  sorrow  the  rising  of  this  new  storm  of 
war  and  woe  ;  but  with  characteristic  vigor  he  prepared  to 
meet  it.  As  he  left  Paris  for  the  campaign,  in  a  parting  mes- 
sage to  the  senate  he  said, 

"In  so  just  a  war,  which  w^e  have  not  provoked  by  any 
act,  by  any  pretense,  the  true  cause  of  which  it  would  be  im- 
possible to  assign,  and  where  we  only  take  arms  to  defend 
ourselves,  we  depend  entirely  upon  the  support  of  the  laws, 
and  upon  that  of  the  people  whom  circumstances  call  upon  to 
give  fresh  proofs  of  their  devotion  and  courage." 

In  the  battle  of  Jena,  which  took  place  on  the  14th  of 
October,  the  Prussian  army  was  nearly  annihilated,  leaving  in  a 
few  hours  more  than  forty  thousand  men  in  killed,  wounded 
and  prisoners.  In  less  than  a  month  the  conquest  of  entire 
Prussia  was  achieved,  and  Napoleon  was  pursuing  Frederic 
William,  who,  with  the  wreck  of  the  Piaissian  army  was  hasten- 
ing to  take  refuge  in  the  bosom  of  the  Russian  hosts  which  were 
approaching.  December  had  now  come  with  its  icy  blasts, 
and  Napoleon,  leading  his  victorious  troops  to  the  banks  of 
the  Vistula,  more  than  a  thousand  miles  from  Fiance,  estab- 
lished them  in  winter  quarters,  waiting  until  spring  for  the 
renewal  of  the  campaign. 

Alexander,  terrified  by  the  destruction  of  his  Prussian 
allies,  halted  his  troops  upon  the  other  side  of  the   Vistula, 


ACCESSIO^•      or      ALiiXANDER.  483 

and  from  his  vast  realms  collected  recruits.  For  a  few  Aveeks 
the  storms  of  winter  secured  a  tacit  armistice. 

lu  February,  1807,  Alexander  assumed  the  offensive  and 
endeavored  to  surprise  Napoleon  in  his  encampment.  But 
Napoleon  was  on  the  alert.  A  series  of  terrific  battles  en- 
sued, in  which  the  French  were  invariably  the  victors.  The 
retreating  Russians,  hotly  pursued,  at  last  rallied  on  the  field, 
of  Eylau.  Napoleon  had  already  driven  them  two  hundred 
and  forty  miles  from  his  encampment  on  the  Vistula. 

"It  was  the  Tth  of  February,  1807.  The  night  was  dark 
and  intensely  cold  as  the  Russians,  exhausted  by  the  retreat 
of  the  day,  took  their  positions  for  the  desperate  battle  of 
the  morrow.  There  was  a  gentle  swell  of  land  extending 
two  or  three  miles,  which  skirted  a  vast,  bleak,  unsheltered 
plain,  over  which  the  wintry  gale  drifted  the  snow.  Upon 
this  ridge  the  Russians  in  double  lines  formed  themselves  in 
battle  array.  Five  hundred  pieces  of  cannon  Avere  ranged  in 
battery,  to  hurl  destruction  into  the  bosoms  of  their  foes. 
They  then  threw  themselves  upon  the  icy  ground  for  their 
frigid  bivouac.  A  tierce  storm  had  already  risen,  which 
spread  over  the  sleeping  host  its  mantle  of  snow." 

Napoleon  came  also  upon  the  field,  in  the  darkness  of  the 
night  and  of  the  storm,  and  placed  his  army  in  position  for 
the  battle  which  the  dawn  Avould  usher  in.  Two  hundred 
pieces  of  artillery  were  planted  to  reply  to  the  Russian  bat- 
teries. There  were  eighty  thousand  Russians  on  the  ridge, 
sixty  thousand  Frenchmen  on  the  plain,  and  separated  by  a 
distance  of  less  than  half  a  cannon  shot.  The  sentinels  of 
either  army  could  almost  touch  each  other  with  their  muskets. 

The  Mioining  had  not  yet  dawned  when  the  cannonade 
commenced.  The  eaith  shook  beneath  its  roar.  A  storm  of 
snow  at  the  same  time  swept  over  the  plain  blinding  and 
smothoiing  assailants  and  assailed.  The  smoke  of  the  bat- 
tle blended  with  the  storm  had  spread  over  the  contending 
hosts    a    sulphurous  canopy   black    as   midnight.      Even    the 


484  THE      EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

flash  of  the  guns  could  hardly  be  discerned  through  tlie 
gloom.  All  the  day  long,  and  until  ten  o'clock  at  night,  the 
battle  raged  with  undiminished  fury.  One  half  of  the  Rus- 
sian army  was  now  destroyed,  and  the  remainder,  miable 
longer  to  endure  the  conflict,  sullenly  retreated.  Napoleon 
remained  master  of  the  field,  which  exhibited  such  a  scene  of 
misery  as  had  never  before  met  even  his  eye.  When  con- 
gratulated upon  his  victory  by  one  of  his  oflicers  he  replied 
sadly, 

"  To  a  father  who  loses  his  children,  victory  has  no  charms. 
When  the  heart  speaks,  glory  itself  is  an  illusion." 


CHAPTER     XXX. 

REiaN     OF    ALEXANDER    I. 
From  1807  to  1825. 

The  Field  of  Etlait. — Letter  to  the  Kins  of  Pktjssia. — Eenewal  op  the  Wak.— 
Discomfiture  of  the  Aluks. — Battle  of  Friedland. — The  Eaft  at  Tilsit. — 
Intimacy  of  the  E.mi'Euors. — Alexander's  Designs  upon  Turkey. — Alliance 
between  France  and  Russia. — Ob.tect  of  the  Continental  System. — Perplexi- 
ties OP  Alexander. — Driven  by  the  Nobles  to  War. — Results  op  the  Russian 
Campaign. — Napoleon  Vanquished. — Last  Days  op  Alexander. — llis  Sickness 
AND  Death. 

TT^ROM  the  field  of  Eylau,  the  Russians  and  Prussians  re- 
J-  treated  to  the  Niemen.  Napoleon  remained  some  days 
upon  the  field  to  nurse  the  wounded,  and,  anxious  for  peace, 
wrote  to  the  King  of  Prussia  in  the  following  terms  : 

"  I  desire  to  put  a  period  to  the  misfortunes  of  your 
family,  and  to  organize,  as  speedily  as  possible,  the  Prussian 
monarchy.  I  desire  peace  with  Russia,  and,  provided  that 
t])e  cabinet  of  St.  Petersburg  has  no  designs  npon  the  Turk- 
ish empire,  I  see  no  difticulty  in  obtaining  it.  I  have  no 
hesitation  in  sending  a  minister  to  Memil  to  take  part  in  a 
congress  of  France,  England,  Sweden,  Russia,  Prussia  and 
Turkey.  But  as  such  a  congress  may  last  many  years,  which 
would  not  suit  the  present  condition  of  Prussia,  your  majesty 
will,  I  am  persuaded,  be  of  the  opinion  that  I  have  taken  the 
simplest  method,  and  one  whicii  is  most  likely  to  secure  the 
prospeiity  of  your  subjects.  At  all  events  I  entreat  your 
majesty  to  believe  in  my  sincere  desire  to  reestablish  ami- 
cable relations  with  so  fiiendly  a  power  as  Prussia,  and  that  I 
wish  to  do  the  saiiH!  with  Ivussia  and  Kttgland." 

These   advances  were   haughlily  rt-jccted  by  both  l*russia 


486  THE     EMPIRE      OF     KUSSIA. 

and  Russia;  and  Napoleon  returned  to  the  Vistula  to  wait 
until  the  opening  of  spring,  when  the  question  was  again  to 
be  referred  to  the  arbitrament  of  battle.  Both  parties  made 
vigorous  preparations  for  the  strife.  Alexander  succeeded  in 
gathering  around  him  one  hundred  and  forty  thousand  sol- 
diers. But  Napoleon  had  assembled  one  hundred  and  sixty 
thousand  whom  he  could  rapidly  concentrate  upon  any  point 
between  the  Vistula  and  the  Niemen. 

In  June  the  storm  of  w^ar  commenced  with  an  assault  by 
the  allies.  Field  after  field  was  red  with  blood  as  the  hosts 
of  France  drove  their  vanquished  foes  before  them.  On  the 
10th  of  June,  Alexander,  with  Frederic  William  riding  by 
his  side,  had  concentrated  ninety  thousand  men  upon  the 
plains  of  Friedland,  on  the  banks  of  the  AUer.  Here  the 
Russians  were  compelled  to  make  a  final  stand  and  await  a 
decisive  conflict.  As  Napoleon  rode  upon  a  height  and  sur- 
veyed his  foes,  caught  in  an  elbow  of  the  river,  he  said  ener- 
getically, "  We  have  not  a  moment  to  lose.  One  does  not 
twice  catch  an  enemy  in  such  a  trap."  He  immediately  com- 
municated to  his  aids  his  plan  of  attack.  Grasping  the  arm 
of  Ney,  he  pointed  to  the  dense  masses  of  the  Russians  clus- 
tered before  the  town  of  Friedland,  and  said, 

"  Yonder  is  the  goal.  March  to  it  without  looking  about 
you.  Break  into  that  thick  mass  whatever  it  costs.  Enter 
Friedland  ;  take  the  bridges  and  give  yourself  no  concern 
about  what  may  happen  on  your  right,  your  left  or  your  reai-. 
The  army  and  I  shall  be  there  to  attend  to  that." 

The  whole  French  line  now  simultaneously  advanced.  It 
was  one  of  the  most  sublime  and  awful  of  the  spectacles  of 
war.  Foi-  a  few  hours  there  was  the  gleam  and  the  roar  of 
war\s  most  terrific  tempest  and  the  Russian  army  was  de- 
stroyed. A  frightful  spectacle  of  ruin  was  exhibited.  Tlie 
shattered  bands  rushed  in  dismay  into  the  stream,  where 
thousands  were  swept  away  by  the  current,  while  a  storm  of 
bullets  from  the   Fr(!nch    batteries  swept  the  river,  and   the 


REIGN      OF      ALKXANDER     I.  487 

Avater  ran  red  willi  blood.  It  was  in  vain  for  Akwaiidcr  to 
make  any  further  assaults.  In  ten  days  Napoleon  had  taken 
one  liundred  and  tv/enty  pieces  of  cannon,  and  had  killed, 
wounded  or  taken  prisoners,  sixty  tliousand  Russians. 

Alexander  now  implored  peace.  It  was  all  that  Napoleon 
desired.  The  Niemen  alone  now  separated  the  victoiious 
French  and  the  routed  Russians.  A  raft  was  moored  in  the 
middle  of  the  stream  upon  which  a  tent  was  erected  with 
magniticent  decorations,  and  here  the  two  young  emperors 
met  to  arrange  the  terras  of  peace.  Alexander,  like  Francis 
of  Austria,  endeavoied  to  throw  the  blame  of  the  war  upon 
England.     Almost  his  first  words  to  Napoleon  were, 

"  I  hate  the  English  as  much  as  you  do.  I  am  ready  to 
second  you  in  all  your  enterprises  against  them." 

"  In  that  case,"  Napoleon  replied,  "  every  thing  will  be 
easily  arranged  and  peace  is  already  made." 

The  intei'view  lasted  two  hours,  and  Alexander  was  fasci- 
nated by  the  genius  of  Napoleon.  "  Never,"  he  afterwards 
said,  "did  I  love  any  man  as  I  loved  that  man."  Alexan<ler 
was  then  but  thirty  years  of  age,  and  apparently  he  became 
inspired  with  an  enthusiastic  admiration  of  Napoleon  rt'hich 
had  never  been  surpassed.  At  the  close  of  the  interview,  he 
crossed  to  the  French  side  of  the  river,  and  took  up  his  resi- 
dence with  Napoleon  at  Tilsit.  Every  day  they  rode  side  by 
side,  dined  together,  and  passed  almost  every  hour  in  con- 
fiding conversation.  It  was  Napoleon's  great  object  to  with- 
diaw  Alexander  from  the  English  alliance.  In  these  long- 
interviews  the  fate  of  Turkey  was  a  continual  topic  of  con- 
versation. Alexander  was  ready  to  make  almost  any  con- 
cession if  Napoleon  would  consent  that  Russi;i  should  take 
Constantinople.  But  Napoleon  was  irreconcilably  opi)osed  to 
this.  It  was  investing  Russia  with  too  formidable  {)()wer.  lie 
was  willing  that  the  em2>eror  should  take  the  pro\  inces  on  the 
Danube,  but  could  not  consent  that  he  should  pass  tlie  Balkan 
and  annex  tlie  proud  city  of  Constantine  to  his  realms. 


488  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

One  day  when  the  two  emperors  were  closeted  together 
-with  tlie  map  of  Europe  spread  out  before  them,  Xapoleon 
placed  liis  tinger  upon  Constantinople,  and  was  overheard  by 
Meneval  to  say,  with  great  earnestness,  "  Constantinople ! 
never!     It  is  the  empire  of  the  world." 

"  All  the  Emperor  Alexander's  thoughts,"  said  Napoleon 
at  St.  Helena,  "  are  directed  to  the  conquest  of  Turkey.  We 
have  had  many  discussions  about  it.  At  first  I  was  pleased 
with  his  proposals,  because  I  thought  it  would  enlighten  the 
world  to  drive  these  bi-utes  out  of  Egypt.  But  when  I  re- 
fleeted  upon  its  consequences  and  saw  what  a  tremendous 
weight  of  powei-  it  would  give  to  Russia,  on  account  of  the 
number  of  Greeks  in  the  Turkish  dominions  who  would  nat- 
urally join  the  Russians,  I  refused  to  consent  to  it,  especially 
as  Alexander  wanted  to  get  Constantinople,  which  I  would 
not  allow,  as  it  would  destroy  the  equilibrium  of  power  in 
Europe." 

For  three  weeks  the  emperors  remained  together  at  Tilsit, 
and  then  they  separated  devoted  friends.  Turkey  had  for 
some  time  been  disposed  to  regard  France  as  its  protector 
against  the  encroachments  of  Russia,  and  was  disposed  to 
enter  into  friendly  alliance.  By  the  treaty  of  Tilsit,  Russia 
consented  to  make  peace  with  Turkey,  and  also  to  exert  all 
her  influence  to  promote  peace  between  France  and  England. 
The  efforts  of  Alexander  not  being  successful  in  this  respect, 
he  broke  off"  his  connection  with  Great  Britain,  and  became 
still  more  intimately  allied  with  France.  The  British  embas- 
sador, Lord  Gower,  was  informed  that  his  presence  was  no 
longer  desired  at  St.  Petersburg.  The  second  bombardment 
of  Copenhagen,  and  the  seizure  of  the  Danish  fleet  gave  oc- 
casion for  Alexander  to  declare  war  against  England.  The 
war,  however,  which  ensued  between  the  two  countries, 
amounted  cliiefly  to  a  cessation  of  trade.  England,  pro- 
tected by  her  fleet,  was  invulnerable  ;  and  Napoleon  and 
Alexander  both   agreed  that  the  only  possible  way  of  com- 


REIGN      OF      ALEXAXBEK     I.  480 

pelling  England  to  assent  to  peace,  was  to  shut  lier  out  from 
commerce  with  tlie  rest  of  Europe.  Tliis  was  the  origin  of 
the  famous  continental  system,  by  which  it  was  endeavored 
to  force  the  belligerent  islanders  to  peace  by  cutting  off  their 
trade, 

Alexander  called  upon  Sweden  to  unite  in  this  confederacy 
against  England.  The  Swedes  declined.  Alexander  overran 
the  whole  of  Finland  with  his  troops,  and  in  1809  it  was  per- 
manently annexed  to  the  Russian  empire.  Just  before  this 
event,  in  September,  1808,  Napoleon  and  Alexander  held 
another  interview  at  Erfurth.  The  loss  of  British  commerce 
was  almost  as  great  a  calamity  to  Russia  as  to  England,  and  the 
Russian  people  murmured  loudly.  England  wished  to  arrest 
the  progress  of  democratic  ideas  in  France  by  restoring  the 
rejected  Bourbons  to  the  throne.  In  these  views  the  nobles 
of  Russia  sympathized  cordially,  and  they  were  exasperated 
that  Alexander  should  allow  personal  friendship  for  Napoleon 
to  intei'fere  with  the  commerce  of  their  country,  and  with  the 
maintenance  of  aristocratic  privilege  in  Europe.  The  Russian 
nobles  had  nothing  to  gain  by  the  establishment  of  free  insti- 
tutions in  France,  and  the  discontent  with  the  measures  of 
Alexander  became  so  general  and  so  loudly  expressed  that  he 
began  to  waver. 

The  only  hope  of  Napoleon  was  in  combining  Europe  iu  a 
league  wliich  should  starve  England  into  peace.  He  watched 
the  vacillating  spirit  of  Alexander  with  alarm,  and  arranged 
the  interview  at  Erfurth  that  he  might  strengthen  him  in  liis 
friendly  purposes.  Alexander  was  by  the  most  solemn  pledges 
bound  to  be  faithful  to  this  alliance.  lie  had  attacked  Napo- 
leon and  had  been  conquered ;  and  the  southern  provinces  of 
Russia  were  at  the  mercy  of  the  conqueror.  Under  these 
cii'cumstances  the  treaty  of  Tilsit  was  made,  in  which  Alex- 
ander, in  considcraiion  of  hcnciits  I'eceived,  agreed  to  cooper- 
ate with  Naj)(ile(>n  in  tiiat  continental   system   which  seemed 

vital  to  the  safety  of  France.     Napoleon   was  well  aware  of 

01=1= 


490  THE     EMPIRE      OP     EUSSIA. 

the  immense  pressure  which  was  brought  to  bear  upon  tlie 
mind  ot"  the  Russian  tzar  to  induce  him  to  swerve  fiom  liis 
agreement.  Hence  the  conference  at  Erfurth.  During  tlie 
deliberations  at  Erfnrtli  it  appears  that  Alexander  consented 
that  Napoleon  should  place  the  crown  of  Spain  upon  the  brow 
of  his  brother  Joseph,  in  consideration  of  Napoleon  consent- 
ing that  Russia  should  take  possession  of  the  tuo  Turkish 
provinces  of  Moldavia  and  Wallachia.  And  again  the  most 
strenuous  efforts  were  made  by  the  united  emperors  to  induce 
inflexible  England  to  sheathe  the  sword.  All  the  nations  on 
the  continent  were  at  peace.  England  alone  was  prosecuting 
the  war.  But  the  English  aristocracy  felt  that  they  could  not 
remain  firm  in  their  possessions  while  principles  of  democratic 
freedom  \\ere  dominant  in  France.  The  fundamental  principle 
of  the  government  of  the  empire  was  honor  to  merit,  not  to 
birth.  The  two  emperors  wrote  as  follows  to  the  King  of 
England,  imploring  peace : 

"  Sire — The  present  situation  of  Europe  has  brought  us 
together  at  Erfurth.  Our  first  wish  is  to  fulfill  the  desire  of 
all  nations,  and,  by  a  speedy  pacification  with  your  majesty  to 
take  the  most  efl^ectual  means  of  relieving  the  sufl:erings  of 
Europe.  The  long  and  bloody  war  which  has  convulsed  the 
continent  is  at  an  end,  and  can  not  be  renewed.  Many  changes 
have  taken  place  in, Europe;  many  governments  have  been 
destroyed.  The  cause  is  to  be  found  in  the  uneasiness  and 
the  sufferings  occasioned  by  the  stagnation  of  maritime  com- 
merce. Greater  changes  still  may  take  place,  aiul  all  will  he 
imfavorable  to  the  politics  of  England.  Peace,  therefore,  is 
at  the  same  time  the  common  cause  of  the  nations  of  the  con- 
tinent and  of  (Ireat  Britain.  We  unite  in  requesling  your 
majesty  to  lend  aii  ear  to  the  voice  of  humanity,  to  suppre-s 
that  of  the  passions,  to  reconcile  contending  interests,  and  to 
secure  the  weltjire  of  Euroj)e  and  of  the  generations  over 
which  Providence  has  placed  us," 

The  only  notice  taken  of  this  letter  was  in  a  communica- 


R  E  1  G  X      OF      A  L  K  X  A  N  D  E  R      I  .  491 

tion  to  the  niiiiistors  of  France  and  Russia,  in  wliit-h  it  was 
stated  tliat  the  "English  ministers  could  not  reply  to  the  two 
sovereigns,  since  one  of  them  was  not  recognized  by  England." 
A  new  coalition  was  soon  formed,  and  Austria  commenced 
another  march  upon  France,  wliich  led  to  the  campaign  of 
Wagram,  in  which  Austria  was  humbled  as  nevfr  before. 
Austria  was  now  compelled,  in  conjunction  with  France  and 
Russia,  and  most  of  the  other  European  powers,  to  take  part 
in  the  continental  blockade.  Alexander,  shackled  by  his  no 
bles,  had  not  been  able  to  render  Napoleon  the  assistance  he 
liad  promised  in  this  war.  Loud  murmurs  and  threats  of 
assassination  were  rising  around  him,  and  instead  of  rigorously 
enfoi-cing  the  exclusion  of  English  goods,  he  allowed  them  to 
be  smuggled  into  the  country.  This  was  ruinous  to  Napo- 
leon's system.  Remonstrances  and  recritiiinations  ensued.  At 
length  English  goods  were  freely  introduced,  provided  they 
entered  under  American  colors.  Napoleon,  to  put  a  stop  to 
this  smuggling,  which  the  local  authoi-ities  pretended  they 
could  not  prevent,  seized  several  of  the  principal  ports  of 
northern  Germany,  and  incorporated  the  possessions  of  the 
Duke  of  Oldenburg,  a  near  i-elative  of  Alexandei-,  with 
France.* 

These  measures  increased  the  alienation  between   France 

*  Colonel  Napier,  in  his  "Peninsular  "War,"  very  justly  observes,  "The 
real  principle  of  Xapoleon's  government,  and  secret  of  his  popularity,  made 
him  the  people's  monarch,  not  the  sovereign  of-  the  aristocracy.  Hence  Mr. 
Pitt  called  him  'the  cliild  and  the  champion  of  democracy,'  a  truth  as  evident 
as  that  Mr.  Pitt  and  his  successors  'were  the  children  and  the  champions  of 
aristocracy.'  Hence  also  the  privileged  classes  of  Etn-ope  consistently  turned 
their  natural  and  implacable  hatred  of  the  French  Revolution  to  his  person : 
for  the}'  saw  that  in  him  innovation  had  found  a  protector;  that  he  alone, 
haviiig  given  preeminence  to  a  system  so  hateful  to  them,  was  really  what  he 
called  lilmself,  Tlie  State.  The  treaty  of  Tilsit,  therefore,  although  it  placed 
Napoleon  in  a  commanding  situation  with  regard  to  the  potentates  of  Europe, 
uuiiiKsked  the  real  nature  of  the  war,  and  brought  him  and  England,  tlie  re- 
Fp.  ctive  champions  of  JCquality  and  Privilege,  into  more  direct  contact.  Peace 
could  not  be  between  them  while  they  were  both  strong,  and  all  that  the 
French  emperor  had  hitherto  gained  only  enabled  him  to  choose  his  future 
field  of  battle." 


492  THE     EMPIRE      OP     RUSSIA. 

and  Austria.  In  the  mean  time  Alexandei*  was  waging  war 
with  Turkey,  and  was  pushing  his  conquests  rapidly  on 
towards  the  city  of  Constantine.  These  encroachments 
France  contemplated  with  alarm.  By  the  peace  of  Bucha- 
rest, signed  May  28th,  1812,  the  whole  of  Bessarabia  was  an- 
nexed to  Russia,  and  the  limits  of  the  empire  were  extended 
from  the  Dnieper  to  the  Pruth.  The  Russian  nobles  were 
all  eager  to  join  the  European  aristocracy  in  a  war  against 
democratic  France,  and  it  was  now  evident  that  soon  a  col- 
lision must  take  place  between  the  cabinet  of  the  Tuileries  and 
that  of  St.  Petersburg.  It  was  almost  impossible  for  Alexan- 
der to  resist  the  pressure  which  urged  him  to  open  his  ports 
to  the  English.  The  closing  of  those  ports  was  Napoleon's 
only  hope  of  compelling  England  to  sheathe  the  sword. 
Hence  war  became  a  fatality. 

Russia,  in  anticipation  of  a  rupture,  began  to  arm,  and 
ordered  a  levy  of  four  men  out  of  every  hundred.  In  prep- 
aiation  for  war  she  made  peace  with  Persia  and  Turkey,  and 
entered  into  an  alliance  with  Sweden.  England  was  highly 
gratitied  by  this  change,  and  was  soon  on  most  friendly  terms 
with  tiie  Russian  cabinet.  A  treaty  was  speedily  formed  by 
Engianil,  with  both  Russia  and  Sweden,  by  Avhich  these  latter 
powers  agreed  to  open  their  ports  for  free  connuercial  rela- 
tions witii  England,  and  they  entered  into  an  alliance  offen- 
sive and  defensive  with  that  power.  As  England  was  8till  in 
arms  against  France,  this  was  virtually  a  declaration  of  war. 
This  violation  also  of  the  treaty  of  Tilsit  was  the  utter  ruin 
of  Napoleon's  plans.  To  compel  Russia  to  return  to  the  con- 
tinental system,  Napoleon  prepared  for  that  Russian  campaign 
which  is  one  of  the  most  awful  tragedies  of  history.  The 
world  is  so  fidl  of  the  narratives  of  that  sublime  drama,  that 
the  story  need  not  be  repeated  here.  It  is  just  to  say  that 
Napoleon  exhausted  all  the  arts  of  diplomacy  to  accomplish 
his  purpose  before  he  i)ut  his  armies  in  motion. 

The  Emperor  Alexandei  followed  the  French  in  their  re- 


EEIGN      OF     ALEXAXDEK     I.  493 

treat  tVoiu  Moscow,  ami  with  all  the  powers  of  Europe  allied, 
crossed  the  Rhine,  and  on  the  31st  of  March,  1814,  at  the 
head  of  an  allied  army  of  half  a  million  of  men  entered  Paris 
a  conqueror.  His  sympathies  were  warmly  enlisted  in  behalf 
of  his  fallen  friend  Napoleon.  In  the  negotiations  which  en- 
sued he  exerted  himself  strongly  in  his  favor.  It  was  only  by 
assuming  the  most  energetic  attitude  against  England,  Aus- 
tria and  Prussia,  that  he  succeeded  in  obtaining  for  Napoleon 
the  sovereignty  of  Elba.  Alexander  was  very  magnanimous, 
but  his  voice  was  lost  in  the  clamor  of  the  sovereigns  who 
surrounded  him. 

Napoleon  retired  to  Elba.  The  Bourbons  reascended  the 
throne  of  France,  Alexander,  with  the  King  of  Prussia,  vis- 
ited England,  where  he  was  received  with  great  distinction. 
Returning  to  Russia  he  devoted  himself  to  the  welfare  of  his 
kingdom  in  the  vain  attempt  to  reconcile  popular  progress 
with  political  despotism.  Alexander  was  evidently  saddened 
by  the  fete  of  Napoleon,  and  on  his  return  to  St.  Petersburg 
persistently  refused  to  accept  the  public  rejoicings  which  were 
proflered  him. 

Napoleon  escaped  from  Elba,  where  the  influence  of  Alex- 
ander had  placed  him,  and  again  was  on  the  throne  of  France. 
Alexander  hesitated  whether  again  to  march  aginst  him.  lie 
yielded,  however,  to  the  solicitations  of  his  associated  sovei- 
eigns,  and  at  the  head  of  an  army  of  one  hundred  and  sixty 
thousand  men,  was  again  on  the  march  for  Paris.  He  was 
apprehensive  that  the  dismemberment  of  the  P"'iench  empiie, 
which  was  contemplated,  might  render  Austria  and  Prussia 
too  powerful  for  the  repose  of  Europe.  Upon  the  second  capi- 
tulation of  Paris,  after  the  battle  of  Waterloo,  Alexander  in- 
sisted that  France  should  at  least  retain  the  limits  she  had  in 
1790.     Upon  this  basis  the  new  treaty  was  concluded. 

It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  the  celebrated  Juliana,  Bar- 
oness of  Krudoner,  was  mainly  instriunental  in  the  organiza- 
tion of  the   Holy  Alliance,  which   was  at  this  time  formed. 


4  94  THE     EMPIEE      OF     RUSSIA. 

She  had  wealth,  wit  and  beauty,  and  had  been  supremely  de- 
voted to  pleasure,  shining  among  the  most  brilliant  ornaments 
of  St.  Petersburg,  Paris  and  Vienna.  Weary  of  a  life  of 
gayety,  she  seems  to  have  turned  to  religion  and  to  Iiave 
become  a  devout  and  earnest  Christian.  Her  enthusiasm  was 
roused  with  the  idea  of  putting  a  stop  to  war,  and  of  truly 
Christianizing  Europe.  She  hastened  to  Paris,  when  the  allied 
sovereigns  were  there,  and  obtained  an  interview  with  the 
Russian  tzar.  Alexander  was  by  nature  of  a  devotional  turn 
of  mind,  and  the  terrific  scenes  through  which  he  had  passed 
had  given  him  a  meditative  and  pensive  spirit.  He  listened 
eagerly  to  the  suggestions  of  Madame  Krudoner,  and,  aided 
by  her,  sketched  as  follows  the  plan  of  the  Holy  Alliance: 

"  In  the  name  of  the  sacred  and  invisible  Trinity,  their 
majesties,  the  Emperor  of  Austria,  the  King  of  Prussia,  and 
the  Emperor  of  Russia,  considering  the  momentous  events 
which  have  occured  in  Europe  during  the  last  three  years, 
and  especially  the  blessing  which  it  has  pleased  Providence  to 
confer  on  those  States  which  trust  in  him,  and  being  fully  con- 
vinced of  the  necessity  of  taking,  as  the  rule  of  life,  in  all 
their  affairs,  the  sublime  truths  which  the  holy  religion  of  our 
Saviour  teaches  us, 

"Declare  solemnly  that  the  present  act  has  no  other  object 
than  to  proclaim  to  the  whole  world  their  unalterable  resolu- 
tion  to  take,  as  their  only  guide,  both  in  the  internal  adminis- 
tration of  their  respective  States,  and  in  their  political  rela- 
tions with  other  governments,  those  principles  of  justice, 
Christian  charity  and  peace,  which,  far  from  being  exclusively 
applicable  to  private  individuals,  should  have  an  immediate 
influence  upon  the  counsels  of  princes,  and  should  regulate 
all  their  measures,  as  being  the  only  means  of  consolidating 
human  institutions  and  remedying  their  iniDerfections.  Con- 
sequently their  majesties  have  agreed  upon  the  following  res- 
olutions : 

"  Article   I.     In   conformitv  with    the   declaration   of  the 


REIGN      OF     ALEXANDER     I.  495 

holy  Soriptuves,  which  coinniand  all  men  (oreg.'iiHl  each  other 
as  brothers,  the  three  contracting  monarchs  will  remain  united 
to  each  other  by  the  ties  of  sincere  and  indissoluble  fraternity 
Regarding  themselves  as  private  individuals,  they  will  rendei 
each  other,  at  all  times,  and  in  all  })laces,  aid  and  assistance ; 
and  considering  themselves,  in  respect  to  their  people  and 
armies,  as  lathers  of  families,  they  will  rule  in  the  same  spirit 
of  fraternity,  that  religion,  peace  and  justice  may  be  pro- 
tected. 

"Article  TI.  Also  the  only  obligation  of  rigor,  Avhether  it 
be  between  these  governments  or  their  subjects,  shall  consist 
in  rendering  each  other  all  sorts  of  service,  and  of  testifying 
towards  each  other  that  unalterable  benevolence  and  that 
mutual  affection  which  shall  lead  them  to  guard  one  another 
as  members  of  one  and  the  same  Christian  family.  The  three 
allied  princes,  regarding  themselves  as  delegated  by  Prov- 
idence to  govern  three  branches  of  this  family,  Austria, 
Prussia  and  Russia,  recognize  tliat  the  Christian  world,  of 
which  they  and  their  people  compose  a  part,  can  have,  in  real- 
ity, no  other  sovereign  than  him  to  whom  belongs  all  power, 
because  in  him  alone  ai'e  the  treasures  of  love,  of  science  and 
of  infinite  wisdom — that  is  to  say,  God,  our  divine  Saviour, 
the  word  of  the  Most  High,  the  word  of  life.  Consequently 
theii  majesties  recommend  to  their  people,  with  the  greatest 
solicitude,  and  as  the  only  means  of  enjoying  that  peace  u  hich 
springs  from  a  good  conscience,  and  which  alone  is  durable, 
to  strengthen  themselves  daily  more  and  more  in  the  exercise 
of  those  duties  taught  to  the  human  family  by  the  divine 
Saviour. 

"Article  III.  All  the  powers  who  believe  that  they 
ought  solenmly  to  profess  the  principles  which  have  dictated 
this  act,  and  who  recognize  how  important  it  is  for  the  wel- 
fare of  nations,  too  long  agitated,  that  these  truths  shouhl 
hereafter  exercise  over  the  destinies  of  the  human  family  that 
influence    which    they  ought  to  exert,  shall   be  received,  w  itli 


496  THE     EMPIRE      OF      KUSSIA. 

the  same  ardor  and  affection,  into  this  Holy  Alliance.  Done 
at  Paris,  in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  1814,  September  25,  and 
signed,  Francis,  Frederic  William  and  Alexander." 

Such  was  the  bond  of  the  Holy  Alliance.  It  was  drawn 
up  in  tlie  hand-writing  of  Alexander.  Subsequently  it  was 
signed  by  the  Kings  of  England  and  France,  and  by  nearly 
all  the  sovereigns  of  Europe.  The  pope  declined  signing,  as 
it  was  not  consistent  with  his  dignity  to  be  a  member  of  a 
confederacy  of  which  he  was  not  the  head.  These  principles, 
ap})arently  so  true  and  salutary,  became  vitiated  by  the  un- 
derlying of  principles  which  gave  them  all  their  force.  The 
alliance  became  in  reality  a  conspiracy  of  the  crowned  heads 
of  Europe  against  the  liberties  of  their  subjects ;  and  thus 
despotism  sat  enthroned.  The  liberal  spirit,  which  was  then 
breaking  out  all  over  the  continent  of  Europe,  was  thus,  for 
a  time,  effectually  crushed.  It  can  hardly  be  supposed  that 
Alexander  intended  the  Holy  Alliance  to  accomplish  the 
work  which  it  subsequently  pertbrmed. 

Alexander,  on  his  return  to  Russia,  devoted  himself  ener- 
getically to  the  government  of  his  vast  realms,  taking  long  and 
fatiguing  journeys,  and  manifesting  much  interest  in  the  ele- 
vation of  the  serfs  to  freedom.  The  latter  years  of  Alexander 
weie  clouded  with  sorrow.  He  was  not  on  good  terms  with 
his  wife,  and  the  death  of  all  his  children  rendered  his  home 
desolate.  His  health  failed  and  some  deep  grief  seemed  ever 
to  prey  upon  his  spirits.  It  is  supposed  that  the  melancholy 
late  of  Napoleon,  dying  in  a  hut  at  St.  Helena,  and  of  whom 
he  had  said,  "  Never  did  I  love  a  man  as  I  have  loved  that 
man  !"  weighed  heavily  upon  him.  He  was  constantly  haunted 
by  fears  of  a  rising  of  the  oppressed  people,  and  to  repel  that 
danger  was  becoming  continually  more  despotic. 

In  the  year  1825,  Alexander,  sick,  anxious  and  melancholy, 
took  a  long  journey,  with  his  wife,  to  Tanganroy,  a  small  town 
upon  the  Sea  of  Azof,  fifteen  hundred  miles  from  St,  Peters- 
bini;-.     He  had  for  some  time  looked   forward  with  dread  to 


REIGN     OF     ALEXANDER     I.  497 

his  appearauce  before  the  bar  ol"  God.  A  sense  of  sin  op- 
pressed him,  and  he  had  long  sought  relief  with  prayers  and 
lears.  His  despondency  led  him  to  many  forebodings  that  he 
siiould  not  live  to  return  from  this  journey. 

The  morning  before  he  left  St.  Petersburg,  at  the  early 
hour  of  four  o'clock,  he  visited  the  monastery  where  the  re- 
mains of  his  children  were  entombed,  and  at  their  grave  spent 
some  time  in  prayer.  Wrapped  in  his  cloak,  in  unbroken 
silence  he  listened  to  the  "  chant  for  the  dead,"  and  then  com- 
menced his  journey.  No  peasant  whom  he  met  on  the  way 
had  a  heavier  heart  than  throbbed  in  the  bosom  of  the  sov- 
ereign. For  hours  he  sat  in  the  carriage  with  the  empress, 
with  whom  in  grief  he  had  become  reconciled,  and  hardly  a 
word  was  uttered.  At  length  they  arrived  upon  the  shores 
of  Azof.  The  emperor  took  a  rapid  tour  through  these  prov- 
inces, visiting  among  other  places  Sevastopol,  which  he  had 
long  been  fortifying.  He  was  so  much  struck  with  the  mag- 
niticence  of  this  place  that  he  remarked,  "  Should  I  ever  re- 
sign the  reins  of  government,  I  should  wish  to  retire  to  this 
city,  that  I  might  here  terminate  my  career !" 

Returning  to  his  wife  at  Tanganroy,  he  was  seized  with  a 
fever,  probably  caused  by  care  and  toil.  The  disease  was  so 
rajiid  in  its  progress  as  to  lead  many  to  suppose  that  he  was 
tailing  a  victim  to  poison.  On  the  approach  of  death,  per- 
ceiving that  he  was  dying,  he  requested  that  he  might  be 
raised  upon  his  pillow,  that  he  might  once  more  behold  the 
liixlit  ol'lhe  Sim.  He  simply  remarked,  "How  beautiful  is  the 
(lay  I"  and  fell  back  upon  his  pillow  to  die.  The  empress  was 
weeping  by  his  side.  He  took  her  hand,  pressed  it  tenderly 
as  if  bidding  her  an  eternal  adieu,  and  died.  It  was  the  1st 
of  December,  1825. 

The  empress  Elizabeth  in  this  sad  hour  forgot  all  her 
wrongs ;  Ibr  the  emperor  had  by  no  means  been  to  her  a 
liiithful  husband.     She  wrote  to  her  friends,  "  Our  angel  is  in 


498  THE     EMPIRE      OP     BUS  SI  A. 

heaven  ;  and,  as  for  me,  I  still  linger  on  earth  :  but  I  hope 
soon  to  be  reunited  with  hiiu  in  the  skies!" 

The  cry  immediately  resounded  through  Europe  that  Alex- 
ander had  fallen  by  poison.  As  the  emperor  had  no  children 
living,  the  crown,  by  hereditary  descent,  passed  to  his  next 
brother,  Constantine.  Alexander  had  long  been  conscious 
that  Constantine  did  not  possess  suitable  qualifications  to  gov- 
ern, and  Constantine  himself,  frivolous  and  pleasure-loving, 
was  not  at  all  emulous  of  imperial  power.  When  a  meie  boy 
he  had  been  rnan-ied  to  a  German  princess,  but  fifteen  years 
of  age.  They  endured  each  other  through  the  angry  strifes 
of  four  years  and  then  separated.  Constantine  became  enam- 
ored of  the  daughter  of  a  Polish  count,  and  sought  a  divorce. 
Alexander  consented  to  this  arrangement  on  condition  that 
Constantine  would  resign  all  right  to  the  throne.  The  terms 
were  gladly  accepted,  and  Constantine  signed  the  following 
renunciation,  which  was  kept  secret  until  the  occasion  should 
arise  for  it  to  be  promulated. 

"  Conscious  that  I  do  not  possess  the  genius,  the  talents  or 
the  strength  necessaiy  to  fit  me  for  the  dignity  of  a  sovereign, 
to  which  my  birth  would  give  me  a  right,  I  entreat  your  im- 
perial majesty  to  transfer  that  right  to  him  to  whom  it  belongs 
after  me,  and  thus  assure  for  ever  the  stability  of  the  empiie. 
As  to  myself,  I  shall  add,  by  this  renunciation,  a  new  guaran- 
tee and  a  new  force  to  the  engagements  which  I  spontaneously 
and  solemnly  contracted  on  the  occasion  of  my  divorce  from 
my  first  wife.  All  the  circumstances  in  which  I  find  myself 
strengthen  my  determination  to  adhere  to  this  resolution, 
which  will  prove  to  the  empire  and  to  the  whole  world  the 
sincerity  oi' my  sentiments." 

Another  document  had  also  been  prepared  which  declared 
Alexander's  second  brother,  Nicholas,  heir  to  the  empire. 
Napoleon,  at  St.  Helena,  speaking  of  the  King  of  Prussia  and 
of  Alexander,  said, 

"Frederic  William,  as  a  private  character,  is  an  honorable, 


THE     KEIGN      OF     ALEXAN'DEE      I.  499 

good  and  wortliy  man,  but  in  his  political  capacity  he  is  natur- 
ally disposed  to  yield  to  necessity.  He  is  always  commanded 
by  whoever  has  power  on  his  side,  and  is  about  to  strike. 

'*  As  to  the  Emperor  of  Russia,  he  is  a  man  infinitely  supe- 
rior to  Frederic  William  or  Francis.  He  possesses  wit,  grace, 
information,  and  is  fascinating,  but  he  is  not  to  be  trusted.  He 
is  devoid  of  candor,  a  true  Greek  of  the  Lower  Empire.  At 
the  same  time  he  is  not  without  ideology,  real  or  assumed ; 
after  all  it  may  only  be  a  smattering,  derived  from  his  educa- 
tion and  his  preceptor.  Would  you  believe  what  I  had  to 
discuss  with  him  ?  He  maintained  that  inheritance  was  an 
abuse  in  monarchy,  and  I  had  to  spend  more  than  an  hour, 
and  employ  all  my  eloquence  and  logic  in  proving  to  him  that 
this  right  constituted  the  peace  and  happiness  of  the  people. 
It  may  be  too  that  he  was  mystifying,  for  he  is  cunning,  false, 
adroit  and  hypocritical.  I  repeat  it,  he  is  a  Greek  of  the  Lower 
Empire. 

"If  I  die  here  he  will  be  my  real  heir  in  Europe.  I  alone 
was  able  to  stop  him  with  his  deluge  of  Tartars.  The  crisis 
is  great,  and  will  have  lasting  effects  upon  the  continent  of 
Europe,  especially  upon  Constantinople.  He  was  solicitous 
with  me  for  the  possession  of  it.  I  have  had  much  coaxing 
upon  this  subject,  but  I  constantly  turned  a  deaf  ear  to  it. 
The  Turkish  empire,  shattered  as  it  appeared,  would  con- 
stantly have  remained  a  point  of  separation  between  us.  It 
was  the  marsh  which  prevented  my  right  from  being  turned. 

"  As  to  Greece  it  is  another  matter.  Greece  awaits  a 
liberatoi'.  There  will  be  a  brilliant  crown  of  glory.  He  will 
inscribe  his  name  for  ever  with  those  of  Homer,  Plato  and 
Eparainondas.  I  perhaps  was  not  far  from  it.  When,  during 
my  campaign  in  Italy,  I  arrived  on  the  shores  of  the  Adiiatic, 
I  wrote  to  the  Directory,  that  I  had  before  my  eyes  the  king- 
dom of  Alexauder.  Still  later  I  entered  into  engagements 
with  Ali  Pacha;  and  when  Corfu  was  taken,  they  muist  have 
found   there  ammunition,  and  a  complete   equipment  for  an 


500  THE     EMPIRE      OF     RUSSIA. 

avmy  of  forty  or  fifty  tliousand  men.  I  had  caused  maps  to  be 
made  of  Macedonia,  Servia,  Albania.  Greece,  the  Pelopon- 
nesus at  least,  must  be  the  lot  of  the  European  power  which 
shall  possess  Egypt.  It  should  be  ours ;  and  then  an  independ- 
ent kingdom  in  the  north,  Constantinople,  with  its  provinces, 
to  serve  as  a  barrier  to  the  power  of  Russia,  as  they  have  pre- 
tended to  do  with  respect  to  France,  by  creating  the  kingdom 
of  Belgium." 


CHAPTER    XXXI. 

NICHOLAS. 

From  1825  to  1855. 

Abdioatiox  of  Cojjstantine. — Accession  of  Nicholas. — Insttrkection  Quelled. — 
Nicholas  and  the  Conspirator. — Anecdote. — The  Palace  op  Peterhoff. — 
The  Winter  Palace.— Presentation  at  Court. — Magnitude  op  Russia. — De- 
scription of  the  Hellespont  and  tub  Dardanelles. — The  Turkish  Invasion. — 
Alms  of  Russia. — Views  of  England  and  France. — Wars  of  Nicholas. — The 
Polish  Insurrection. — War  of  the  Crime.v. — Jealousies  op  the  Leading  Na- 
tions.— Encroachments. — Death  of  Nicholas. — Accession  of  Alexander  II. 

CONSTANTINE  was  at  Warsaw  when  the  news  arrived 
of  the  death  of  his  brother.  The  mother  of  Alexander 
was  still  living.  Even  Nicholas  either  atfected  not  to  know, 
or  did  not  know,  that  his  wild,  eccentric  brother  Constantine 
had  renounced  the  throne  in  his  favor,  for  he  immediately, 
upon  the  news  of  the  death  of  Alexander,  summoned  the 
imperial  guard  into  the  palace  chapel,  and,  with  them,  took 
the  oath  of  allegiance  to  his  older  brother,  the  Grand  Duke 
Constantine.  On  his  return,  his  mother,  who  is  represented 
as  being  quite  frantic  in  her  inconsolable  grief,  exclaimed, 

"Nicholas,  what  have  you  done?  Do  you  not  know  that 
there  is  a  document  which  names  you  presumptive  heir  ?" 

"  If  there  be  one,"  Nicholas  replied,  "  I  do  not  know  it, 
neither  does  any  one  else.  But  this  we  all  know,  that  our 
legitimate  sovereign,  after  Alexander,  is  my  brother  Constnn- 
tine.     We  have  therefore  done  our  duty,  come  what  may." 

Nicholas  was  persistent  in  his  resolution  not  to  take  the 
ciown  until  he  received  from  his  brother  a  confirmation  of  his 
renunciation  of  the  throne.  Three  weeks  elapsed  belore  this 
intelligence   arrived.     It   then    came    full   and    decisive,  and 


502  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

Nicholas  no  longer  hesitated,  though  the  interval  had  re- 
vealed to  hiin  that  fearful  dangers  were  impendmg.  He 
was  informed  by  several  of  his  genei-als  that  a  wide-spread 
conspiracy  extended  throughout  the  army  in  favor  of  a  con- 
stitutional government.  Many  of  the  officers  and  soldiers,  in 
their  wars  against  Napoleon  and  in  their  invasion  of  France, 
had  become  acquainted  with  those  jDrinciples  of  popular  lib- 
erty which  were  diffused  throughout  France,  and  which  it 
was  the  object  of  the  allies  to  crush.  Upon  their  retui'n  to 
Russia,  the  utter  despotism  of  the  tzar  seemed  more  than 
ever  hateful  to  them.  Several  conspiracies  had  been  organ- 
ized for  his  assassination,  and  now  the  plan  was  formed  to 
assassinate  the  whole  imperial  family,  and  introduce  a  republic. 

Nicholas  was  seriously  alarmed  by  the  danger  which  threat- 
ened, though  he  was  fully  conscious  that  his  only  safety  was 
to  be  found  in  courage  and  energy.  He  accordingly  made 
preparation  for  the  administration  of  the  oath  of  allgiance  to 
the  army.  "  I  shall  soon,"  said  he,  "  be  an  emperor  or  a 
corpse."  On  the  morning  Avheii  the  oath  was  to  be  adminis- 
tered, and  when  it  was  evident  that  the  insurrection  would 
break  out,  he  said,  "  If  I  am  emperor  only  for  an  hour,  I  will 
show  that  I  am  worthy  of  it." 

The  morning  of  the  25th  of  December  dawned  upon  St. 
Petersbui-g  in  tumult.  Bands  of  soldiers  were  parading  the 
streets  shouting,  "  Constantino  for  ever."  The  insurrection 
had  assumed  the  most  formidable  as[»ect,  for  many  who  were 
not  republicans,  were  led  to  believe  that  Nicholas  was  attempt- 
ing to  usurp  the  crown  which,  of  right,  belonged  to  Constan- 
tine.  Two  generals,  who  had  attempted  to  quell  the  move- 
ment, had  ali-eady  been  massacred,  and  vast  mobs,  led  by  the 
well-armed  regiments,  were,  from  all  quarters  of  the  city, 
pressing  toward  the  imperial  palace.  Nicholas,  who  was  then 
twenty-nine  years  of  age,  met  the  crisis  with  the  energy  of 
Napoleon.  Placing  himself  at  the  head  of  a  small  body  of 
faithful  guards,  he  rode  to  encounter  his  rebellious  subjects  in 


NICHOLAS.  603 

the  stern  strife  of  war.  Instead  of  meeting  a  mob  of  nnarnuMl 
men,  he  found  marshaled  against  him  tlie  best  disciplined 
troops  in  his  army, 

A  terrible  conflict  ensued,  in  which  blood  flowed  in  tor- 
rents. The  emperor,  heading  his  own  troops,  exposed  himself, 
equally  with  them,  to  all  perils.  As  soon  as  it  was  evident 
that  he  would  be  compelled  to  fire  upon  his  subjects,  he  sent 
\\oi  d  to  his  wife  of  the  cruel  necessity.  She  was  in  the  palace, 
surrounded  by  the  most  distinguished  ladies  of  the  court, 
tremblingly  awaiting  the  issue.  When  the  thunder  of  the 
artillery  commenced  in  the  streets,  she  threw  herself  upon 
her  knees,  and,  weeping  bitterly,  continued  in  prayer  until  she 
was  informed  that  the  revolt  was  crushed,  and  that  her  hus- 
band was  safe.  The  number  slain  is  not  known.  That  it 
might  be  concealed,  the  bodies  w^ere  immediately  thrust 
through  holes  cut  in  the  ice  of  the  Neva, 

Though  the  friends  of  liberty  can  not  but  regret  that  free 
principles  have  obtained  so  slender  a  foothold  in  Russia,  it  is 
manifest  that  this  attempt  could  lead  only  to  anarchy.  The 
masses  of  the  nobles  were  thoroughly  corrupt,  and  the  masses 
of  the  people  ignorant  and  debased.  The  Russian  woid  for 
constitutic»n,  const itutsya^  has  a  feminine  termination.  Many 
of  the  people,  it  is  reported,  who  were  shouting,  "  Constan- 
tine  and  the  constitution  for  ever,"  thought  that  the  constitu- 
tion was  the  wife  of  Constantine,  It  must  be  admitted  that 
such  ignorance  presents  but  a  poor  qualification  for  republican 
institutions. 

At  the  close  of  this  bloody  day,  one  of  the  leading  conspir- 
ators, a  general  of  high  position  in  the  army  was  led  a  cap- 
tive into  tiie  presence  of  Nicholas.  The  heroic  republican 
met,  without  cjuailing,  the  proud  eye  of  his  sovereign, 

"Your  father,"  said  Ni"liolas  sternly,  "was  a  faithful  serv- 
ant, but  he  has  left  behind  him  a  degenerate  son.  For  such 
an  enterprise  as  yours  lai'ge  resources  were  requisite.  On  what 
did  you  rely  ?" 


504  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

"  Sire,"  replied  the  prisoner,  "  matters  of  this  kind  can 
not  be  spoken  of  before  witnesses." 

Nicliolas  led  the  conspirator  into  a  private  apartment,  and 
for  a  long  time  conversed  with  him  alone.  Here  the  tzar  had 
opened  before  him,  in  the  clearest  manner,  the  intolerable 
burdens  of  the  people,  the  oppression  of  the  nobles,  the  impo- 
tency  of  the  laws,  the  venality  of  the  judges,  the  coi-ruption 
which  pervaded  all  departments  of  the  government,  legisla- 
tive, executive  and  judiciary.  The  noble  conspirator,  whose 
mind  was  illumined  with  those  views  of  human  rights  which, 
from  the  French  Revolution,  were  radiating  throughout  Eu- 
rope, revealed  all  the  corruptions  of  the  State  in  the  earnest 
and  honest  language  of  a  man  who  was  making  a  dying  decla- 
ration. Nicholas  listened  to  truths  such  as  seldom  reach  the 
ears  of  a  monarch ;  and  these  truths  probably  produced  a 
powerful  impression  upon  him  in  his  subsequent  career. 

Many  of  the  consj)irators,  in  accordance  with  the  barbaric 
code  of  Russia,  were  punished  with  awful  severity.  Some 
were  whipped  to  death.  Some  were  mutilated  and  exiled  to 
Siberia,  and  many  perished  on  the  scaffold.  Fifteen  officers 
of  liigh  rank  were  placed  together  beneath  the  gibbet,  with 
ropes  around  their  necks.  As  the  drop  fell,  the  rope  of  one 
broke,  and  he  fell  to  the  ground.  Bruised  and  half  stunned 
he  rose  upon  his  knees,  and  looking  sadly  around  exclaimed, 

"Truly  nothing  ever  succeeds  with  me,  not  even  death." 

Another  rope  was  procured,  and  this  unhappy  man,  wliose 
words  indicated  an  entire  life  of  disappointment  and  woe,  was 
launched  into  the  world  of  spirits. 

We  have  before  spoken  of  the  palace  of  Peterhoff,  a  i'ew 
miles  from  St.  Petersburg,  on  the  southern  shores  of  the  bay 
of  Cronstadt.  It  is  now  the  St.  Cloud  of  Russia,  the  favorite 
rural  retreat  of  the  Russian  tzars.  This  palace,  which  has 
been  the  slow  growth  of  ages,  consists  of  a  ])ile  of  buildings 
of  every  conceivable  order  of  architecture.  It  is  furnished 
with  all  the  appliances  of  luxury  which  Europe  or  Asia  can 


NICHOLAS.  505 

pvoduoe.  The  pleasure  grounds,  in  their  artistic  embellisli- 
nients,  are  })erhaps  unsurpassed  by  any  others  in  the  worM. 
Fountains,  groves,  lawns,  lakes,  cascades  and  statues,  be- 
wildei-  and  delight  the  spectator. 

Tliere  is  an  annual  fete  on  this  ground  in  July,  which  as- 
sembles all  the  elite  of  Russian  society.  The  spacious  gai-dens 
are  by  night  illuminated  with  almost  inconceivable  splendor. 
The  whole  forest  blazes  with  iiniunierable  torclies,  and  eveiy 
leaf,  twig  and  drop  of  spray  twinkles  with  colored  lights.  Here 
is  that  famous  artiticial  tree  which  has  so  often  been  described. 
It  is  so  constructed  with  root,  trunk  and  brand),  leaf  and  bud 
as  to  deceive  the  Tnost  practiced  eye.  Its  shade,  with  an  in- 
viting seat  placed  beneath  it,  lures  the  loiterer,  through  these 
Eden  groves,  to  approach  and  rest.  The  moment  he  takes 
his  seat  he  presses  a  spring  which  converts  the  tree  into  a 
shower  bath,  and  from  every  twig  jets  of  water  in  a  cloud  of 
spray,  envelops  the  astonished  stranger. 

The  Winter  Palace  at  St.  Petersburg  is  also  a  palace  of 
unsurpassed  splendor.  More  than  a  thousand  persons  habit- 
ually dwell  beneath  the  imj)erial  roof.  No  saloons  more  sump- 
tuous in  architecture  and  adornment  are  probably  to  be  found 
in  the  world  ;  neither  are  the  exactions  of  court  etiquette  any- 
where more  punctiliously  observed.  In  entering  this  palace 
a  massive  gateway  ushers  one  into  a  Iiall  of  magiiiricent 
dimensions,  so  embellished  with  shrubs  and  llowers,  miiltij)lied 
by  mirrors,  that  tlu;  guest  is  deceived  into  the  belief  that  he 
is  sauntering  through  the  walks  of  a  spacious  flower  garden. 
A  flight  of  marble  stairs  conducts  to  an  apartment  of  princely 
8j)leii(lor,  called  the  hall  of  the  Marshals.  Passing  through 
this  hall,  one  enters  a  suite  of  rooms,  apparently  interminable, 
all  of  e.\'traordinai'y  grandeui-  and  sumptuousness,  which  are 
merely  antechaiiiV)ei-s  to  the  grand  audience  saloon. 

In  this  grand  saloon  tin;  emjieroi-  holds  his  court.  Presen- 
tation day  exhibits  one  of  the  most  brilliant  spectacles  of 
earthly  splendor  and  luxury.     When  the  hour  of  presentation 

22 


506  THE      E  5[  P  1  K  E      O  F      K  U  S  S  1  A  . 

arrives  some  massiv'e  folding  doois  are  thrown  open,  revealing 
the  imperial  chapel  thronged  with  tliose  who  are  to  take  part 
in  the  ceremony.  First,  theie  enters  tVom  the  chapel  a  crowd 
of  army  officers,  often  a  thousand  in  niimbei-,  in  tlieir  most 
brilliant  uniform,  the  vanguard  of  the  escort  of  the  tzar. 
They  quietly  pass  thiougli  the  vast  apartment  and  disappear 
amidst  tlie  recesses  of  the  palace.  Still  the-ahuost  intennin 
able  throng,  glitteiing  in  gala  dresses,  press  on.  At  length 
the  gi-and  master  of  ceremonies  makes  his  appearance  announc- 
ing the  approach  of  the  emperor  and  empress. 

The  royal  pair  immediately  enter,  and  bow  to  the  i-epre- 
sentatives  of  other  courts  who  may  be  present,  and  receive 
those  who  are  honored  witli  a  presentation.  No  one  is  per- 
mitted to  sjieak  to  their  majesties  but  in  reply  to  questions 
which  tliey  may  ask.  The  Emperor  Nicholas  was  very  stately 
and  reserved  in  his  manners,  and  said  but  little.  The  empress, 
more  affable,  u  ould  present  her  ungloved  hand  to  her  guest, 
who  would  receive  it  and  press  it  with  fervor  to  his  lips. 

The  Emperor  Nicholas,  during  his  reign,  was  supposed  to 
have  some  ninety  millions  of  the  human  family  subject  to  his 
sway.  With  a  standing  army  of  a  million  of  men,  two  hun- 
dred thousand  of  whom  were  cavalry,  he  j)0ssessed  power  un- 
equaled  by  that  of  any  other  single  kingdom  on  the  globe. 
In  the  recent  struggle  at  Sevastopol  all  the  energies  of  En- 
gland, France  and  Turkey  were  expended  against  Russia  alon-, 
and  yet  it  was  long  doubtful  whose  banners  would  be  victo- 
rious. 

It  is  estimated  that  the  territory  of  Russia  now  comprises 
one  seventh  of  the  habitable  globe,  extending  from  the  lialtic 
Sea  across  the  whole  breadth  of  Europe  and  of  Asia  to  IJehi-- 
ing's  Straits,  and  from  the  eternal  ices  of  the  north  pole,  almost 
down  to  the  sunny  shores  of  the  Mediterranean.  As  the  pre- 
vious narrative  has  shown,  for  many  ages  this  gigantic  power 
has  been  steadily  advancing  towards  Constantinople.  The 
Russian  flag  now  girdles  the  Euxine  Sea,  and  notwitlistanding 


NICHOLAS.  507 

tlie  recent  clieck  at  Sev;isto|iol,  Ilussia  is  pressing  on  with  re 
sistless  stiiJes  l(j wards  tlie  possession  of  the  Hellespont.  A 
brief  skeleh  of  tlie  geography  of  those  reahns  will  give  one  a 
more  vivid  idea  of  the  nalnie  of  that  conflict,  which  now, 
inider  the  title  of  the  eastern  ur  Turkish  (piestion,  engrosses 
the  attention  of  Europe. 

The  strait  wliich  connects  the  Mediterranean  Sea  with  tliel 
Sea  of  Marmora  was  originally  called  the  Hellespont,  from  the 
fabulous  legend  of  a  young  lady,  named  Helle,  tailing  into  it 
in  attemjiting  to  escape  from  a  cruel  niothei"-in-Iaw.  At  the 
mouth  of  the  Hellespont  there  are  four  strong  Turivish  forts, 
two  on  the  European  and  two  on  the  Asiatic  side.  These 
forts  are  called  the  Dardanelles,  and  hence,  from  them,  the 
straits  frequently  receive  the  name  of  the  Dardanelles.  This 
strait  is  thirty-three  miles  long,  occasionally  expanding  in 
width  to  live  miles,  and  again  being  crowded  by  the  ai)proach- 
ing  hills  into  a  narrow  channel  less  than  half  a  mile  in  breadth. 
Through  the  serpentine  navigation  of  these  straits,  with  for- 
tresses irowning  upon  every  headland,  one  ascends  to  the  Sea 
of  Marmora,  a  vast  inland  body  of  water  on.e  hundred  and 
eiglity  miles  in  length  uihI  sixty  miles  in  breadth.  Ci-ussing 
this  sea  lo  the  nortiiern  shore,  you  enter  the  beautiful  straits 
of  the  Bosporus.  JiisL  at  the  point  where  the  Jjosporus  enters 
the  Sea  of  Marmora,  u[)Oii  the  wt'stein  shore  of  the  strails,  sits 
enthroned  upon  the  hills,  in  peerless  beauty,  the  imperial  city 
of  Constanliue  with  its  majestic  domes,  arrowy  minarets  and 
palaces  of  snow-white  marble  glittering  like  a  fairy  vision 
beneath  the  ligiit  of  an  oiiental  sun. 

The  straits  of  the  Bosporus,  which  connect  the  Sea  of 
Marnuna  with  the  Black  Sea,  are  but  fifteen  miles  long  and 
of  an  average  width  of  but  about  one  lijurth  of  a  mile.  In 
naluial  scenery  and  artistic  embellishments  this  is  probably 
the  most  beautiful  reach  of  water  upon  the  globe.  It  is  tlK5 
nncoiil  I'adicted  1  csliiuniiy  of  all  touiisis  that  the  sciaiery  of 
the    Bnsporiis,    in    its    highly  cultivated    shores,    its    graceful 


508  T  PI  E     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

sweep  of  liilis  nuil  iri()iiut:!in  rr.iiges,  in  ils  gorgemi.s  aieliitec- 
ture,  its  almospheiic  brillinnce  ami  in  its  vast  aecunuilations 
of  the  costumes  and  customs  of  all  Europe  and  Asia,  presents 
a  scene  whicli  can  nowhere  else  be  paralleled. 

On  the  Asiatic  sliore,  opposite  Constantinuple,  lies  Scutari, 
a  beautiful  city  embowered  in  the  loliag-e  of  the  cypriis.  An 
arm  of  the  strait  reaches  around  the  northern  portion  of  Con- 
stantinuple, and  furnishes  for  the  city  one  of  the  finest  harbors 
in  the  world.  This  bay,  deep  and  broad,  is  called  the  Golden 
Horn.  Until  within  a  iew  years,  no  embassador  of  Christian 
powers  was  allowed  to  contamin.nte  the  Moslem  city  by  taking 
up  his  residence  in  it.  Tlie  little  suburb  of  Pei'a,  on  tlie 
opposite  side  of  the  Golden  Horn,  was  assigned  to  tiiese 
embassadors,  and  the  Turk,  on  tliis  account,  denominated  it 
T/ie  siome's  quarter. 

Passing  through  the  Bosporus  fifteen  miles,  there  expands 
before  you  the  Euxine,  or  Black  Sea.  This  inland  ocean, 
\\  ith  l)ut  one  narrow  outlet,  receives  into  its  bosom  the  Dan- 
vdje,  the  Dniester,  the  Dnieper,  the  Don  and  tlie  Cuban. 
These  streams,  rolling  through  unmeasured  leagues  of  Russian 
territory,  o])en  them  to  the  commerce  of  the  world.  This 
brief  sketch  reveals  the  intinite  importance  of  the  Dardanelles 
and  the  Bosporus  to  Russia.  This  great  empire,  "  leaning 
against  the  north  pole,"  touches  tiie  Baltic  Sea  only  far  away 
amidst  the  ices  of  the  Noitli.  St.  Petersburg,  during  a  lai-ge 
I)ortion  of  the  year,  is  blockaded  by  ice.  Ninety  millions  of 
people  are  thus  excluded  from  all  the  benefits  of  foreign  coin- 
inerce  for  a  large  portion  of  the  year  unless  they  can  ojten  a 
gateway  to  distant  slioiws  through  the  Bosporus  and  the  Dnr- 
danelles. 

America,  with  thousands  of  miles  of  Atlantic  coast,  mani- 
fests the  greatest  uneasiness  in  iiaving  the  island  of  Cuba  in 
the  hands  of  a  foreign  power,  lest,  in  case  of  war,  her  com- 
merce in  the  Gull'  should  be  embaiM-asseil.  But  the  Dardau- 
elli  s  .-ire,    in    reality,  the   only  gateway  for  the   comni'rce  of 


X  1  C  II  O  L  A  s .  509 

nearly  all  Russia,  All  lier  great  navigable  rivers,  without 
exce[»tion,  tiuw  into  the  Blaek  .Sea,  and  thence  through  the 
Bosporus,  the  Marmora  and  the  Hellespont,  into  the  Med- 
iterranean. And  yet  Russia,  with  her  ninety  millions  of 
population — three  times  that  of  the  United  States — can  not 
send  a  boat  load  of  corn  into  the  Mediterranean  without  bow- 
ing her  flag  to  all  the  Turkish  forts  which  frown  along  her 
pathway.  And  in  case  of  war  with  Turkey  her  commerce  is 
entirely  cut  ofl'.  Russia  is  evidently  unembarrassed  with  any 
very  troublesome  scruples  of  conscience  in  reference  to 
reclaiming  those  beautiful  lealuis,  once  the  home  of  the 
Christian,  which  the  Turk  has  so  ruthlessly  and  bloodily 
invaded.  In  assailing  the  Turk,  the  Russian  feels  tliat  he  is 
fighting  for  his  religion. 

The  tzar  indignantly  inquires,  "  What  title  deed  can  the 
Turk  show  to  the  city  of  Constantine  ?"  None  but  the  drip- 
ping cimeter.  The  annals  of  war  can.  tell  no  sadder  tale  of 
woe  than  the  rush  of  the  barbaric  Turk  into  Christian  Greece. 
He  came,  a  merciless  robber  with  gory  hands,  plundering  and 
burning.  Fathers  and  mothers  were  butcliered.  Christian 
maidens,  shrieking  with  terror,  were  dragged  to  the  Mosleni 
harems.  Christian  boys  were  compelled  to  adopt  the  Mo- 
hammedan faith,  and  then,  crowded  into  the  army,  were 
compelled  to  tight  the  M(jliammedan  battles.  For  centuries 
the  Chiistians,  thus  trampled  beneath  the  heel  of  oppression, 
have  sutfered  every  conceivable  indignity  from  their  cruel 
oppressors.  Earnestly  have  they  appealed  to  their  Christian 
brethren  of  Russia  for  protection. 

It  is  so  essential  to  the  advancing  civilization  of  Russia 
that  slie  shcndd  possess  a  nuiritime  port  which  may  give  her 
access  to  connnei'ce,  that  it  is  not  easy  f  )r  us  to  withhold  our 
sympathies  from  her  in  her  endeavor  to  open  a  gateway  to 
and  from  her  vast  t(;i-iitories  tiiroiigli  tin;  Dardanelles.  When 
Fiance,  England  ;ui(l  Turkey  combined  to  batter  down  Sevas- 
topol  ;uid   bwi-n   tli.:    iiu-isi.iu    ll.jel,  that  Russia  miglit  still   be 


510  THE     EMPIRE      OF      K  IJ  S  S  I  A  . 

barred  up  in  lier  northern  wilds  by  TLirkish  forts,  tliero 
was  an  instinct  in  the  Aniei'ican  heart  which  caused  the  syni- 
patliies  of  tliis  country  to  flow  in  favor  of  Russia,  notwith- 
standing all  the  eloquent  pleadings  of  the  Frencii  and  EiigHsli 
press. 

The  cabinet  of  St.  James  regards  these  encroachments  of 
Russia  with  great  apprehension.  The  view  England  takes  of 
the  subject  may  be  seen  in  the  following  extracts  Ironi  tlie 
Quarterly  Review  : 

"  Tiie  possession  of  the  Dardanelles  would  give  to  Russia 
tlie  means  of  creating  and  organizing  an  almost  unlimited 
marine.  It  would  enable  her  to  prepare  in  the  Black  Sea  an 
armament  of  any  extent,  without  its  being  possible  for  any 
power  in  Europe  to  interrupt  her  proceedings,  or  even  to 
watch  or  discover  her  designs.  Our  naval  officers,  of  tlie 
highest  authority,  have  declared  Vhat  an  effective  blockade  of 
the  Dardanelles  can  not  be  maintained  througliout  the  year. 
Even  supposing  we  could  maintain  pei'maiiently  in  those  seas 
a  fleet  capable  of  encountering  that  of  Russia,  it  is  obvious 
that,  in  tlie  event  of  a  war,  it  would  be  in  the  power  of  Russia 
to  throw  the  whole  weiglit  of  her  disposable  forces  on  aiiy 
point  in  the  Mediterranean,  without  any  probability  of  our 
being  able  to  prevent  it,  and  that  the  power  of  thus  issuing 
forth  witli  an  overwhelming  force,  at  any  moment,  would 
enable  her  to  command  the  Mediteranean  Sea  for  a  limited 
time  whenever  it  might  please  her  so  to  do.  Her  whole 
southei-n  empire  would  be  defended  by  a  single  impregnable 
fortress.  The  road  to  India  would  then  l)e  open  to  her,  with 
all  Asia  at  her  Sack.  The  finest  materials  in  the  world  for  an 
army  destined  to  sei've  in  the  East  would  be  at  lier  disposal. 
Our  power  to  overawe  her  in  Europe  would  be  gone,  and  by 
even  a  demonstration  against  India  slie  could  an_;nient  our 
national  expendit\ire  by  many  millions  annually,  and  )'en<ler 
the  government  of  that  country  difficult  beyond  all  calculation.'-' 
Such  is  the  view  which  England  takes  of  this  subject.    The 


X  I  C  II   O  L  A  S  .  511 

Statesmen  of  Ei)u,I;iiid  and  France  contenijilate  willi  Ml.inn  tlie 
rapul  growth  of  Russia,  and  yet  know  iu)t  liow  to  anc^  iis 
]trogress.  They  see  tlie  Russian  tzars,  yeai-  after  year,  annex- 
ing new  nations  to  their  territory,  and  about  all  they  can  do 
is  to  remonstrate.  All  agree  that  the  oidy  effectual  measure 
to  check  tlie  growth  of  Russia  is  to  prevent  her  from  taking 
possession  of  the  Dardanelles.  To  accomplish  this,  England 
and  France  are  endeavoring  to  bind  together  the  crumbling- 
and  discordant  elements  of  Ottoman  power,  to  infuse  the  vigoi- 
of  youth  into  the  veins  of  an  old  man  dying  of  debauchery 
and  age.  But  the  crescent  is  inevitably  on  the  wane.  The 
doom  of  the  Moslem  is  sealed. 

Theie  are  lour  great  nations  now  advancing  with  marvel- 
ous strides  in  the  appropriation  of  this  globe  to  themselves. 
Russia  has  already  taken  possession  of  one  seventh  of  the 
world's  territory,  and  she  needs  now  but  to  annex  Turkey  in 
Europe  and  Turkey  in  Asia  to  complete  Iier  share.  France  is 
S})rea<ling  her  influence  throughout  soutliern  Europe,  and, 
with  a  tirm  grasj>,  is  seizing  the  provinces  of  northern  Africa. 
England  claims  half  of  the  islands  of  the  ocean,  b(jasts  that  the 
sun  never  sets  upon  lier  dominions,  and  has  protessed  that  the 
ocean  is  her  pi'ivate  pio})erty.  Her  armies,  invincible,  sweep 
the  remotest  plains  of  Asia,  removing  and  setting  down  land- 
marks at  her  pleasure.  Her  advances  are  so  gigantic  that  the 
annexation  of  a  few  thousand  leagues,  at  any  time,  liardly 
attracts  attention.  America  is  looking  with  a  wistful  eye 
upon  the  whole  of  Xorth  and  South  America,  the  islands  of 
tlie  Caribbean  Sea  and  the  groups  of  the  PaciHc.^^ 

*  The  jealousy  of  the  loading  nations  in  regard  to  llieir  niutuul  encroach- 
ments is  amusingly  illu.strated  in  an  interview  between  Senator  Douglani  and 
Sir  Tienry  Uulwcr  in  reference  to  the  Clayton -Bulvver  treaty.  An  article 
was  inserted  in  tliis  treaty  by  the  I'higlish  goveminent,  binding  both  England 
and  America  not  to  colonr/.e,  annex  or  exercise  any  douanioii  over  any  portion 
of  C'.'ntral  .Vmerica.  Sir  Henry  argued  tiiat  the  pledge  was  fnii-  and  just 
since  it  was  r«,'ciprocai,  England  asking  no  more  tiian  she  was  ready  herself  to 
grant. 

"To  test  your  principle,"  said  Soiiator   Doagias,    'I   unuld  jn-oposc  an 


ol2  THE     EMPIRE      OP     RUSSIA. 

IiniUL'diately  after  the  accession  of  Xicbolas  to  tlie  tliroiie, 
war  bi-oke  out  with  Pei-sia.  It  \vas  of  siiort  cluration.  The 
Persian  monarch,  utterly  disconitited,  was  compelled  to  cede 
to  Russia  large  provinces  in  the  Caucasus,  and  extensive  terri- 
toi-y  on  the  south-western  shore  of  the  Caspian,  and  to  pay  all 
the  expenses  of  the  war.  Lnnicdiately  after  this,  on  the  7th 
of  May,  1828,  war  was  declared  against  Turkey.  The  Russian 
ai  iny,  one  hundred  and  sixty  thousand  strong,  flushed  w  itii 
victory,  crossed  tlie  Pruth  and  took  possession  of  the  entire 
left  bank  of  the  Danube,  for  some  hundreds  of  miles  ti-om  its 
mouth,  with  all  its  fertile  fields  and  populous  cities.  They  then 
crossed  tlie  river,  and  overran  the  whole  region  of  Bulgaria. 
The  storms  of  winter,  however,  compelled  a  retreat,  which 
the  Russians  eflected  after  most  terrific  conflicts,  and,  re- 
crossing  the  Danube,  they  established  themselves  in  winter 
quarters  on  its  left  banks,  having  lost  in  the  campaign  one 
half  of  their  number.  The  Turks  took  possession  of  the  I'ight 
bank,  and  remained,  during  the  winter,  in  face  of  their  foes. 
In  tlie  spring  of  1829  tiie  Riissians,  having  obtained  a  rein- 
forcement of  seventy  thousand  men,  opened  the  canipaign 
anew  upon  the  land,  while  a  fleet  of  forty-two  vessels,  carry- 
ing fifteen  hundred  guns,  cooperated  on  the  Black  Sea. 

Through  fields  of  blood,  where  the  Turks,  with  the  ener- 
gies of  despair,  contested  every  step,  the  victorious  Russians 
advanced  nearly  three  hundred  miles.  They  entered  the 
<lefiles  of  the  Balkan  mountains,  and  foi'ced  the  passage. 
ConcentratiMg    iheir  strength   at   the    base   of  the    southern 

ameiiditient  of  simply  two  words.  Let  the  article  read,  '  Neither  England  nor 
the  United  States  will  ever  colonize  any  part  of  Central  America  or  Asia.'  " 

The  British  minister  exclaimed,  in  snrprise,  "  But  you  have  no  colonies 
in  Asia." 

"  True,"  replied  the  United  States  Senator,  "  neither  have  }-ou  any  colonies 
in  Otntral  America.'' 

"  But,"  rejoined  Sir  Henry,  ''yoa  can  never  establish  your  g'ovornment 
there,  in  Asia." 

"  No,"  Mr.  Douglas  replied,  "  neither  do  we  intend  that  you  shall  plant 
your  government  here,  in  Central  America." 


NICHOLAS.  613 

declivilic'S,  tlie  patli  was  open  before  tliem  to  Con.staiUiiio^Me. 
Pushing  rapidly  forward,  they  entered  x\di-ianople  in  triumph. 
They  were  now  within  one  hundred  and  tifty  miles  of  Con- 
stantinople. The  eonsternation  in  the  Turkish  capital  was 
indescribable,  and  all  Europe  was  looking  lor  the  issue  with 
wonder.  The  advance  guard  of  the  Russian  army  was  already 
within  eighty  miles  of  the  imperial  city  when  the  sultan,  Mah- 
nunid  IV.,  implored  peace,  and  assented  to  the  terms  iiis 
victor  extorted. 

By  this  treaty,  called  the  treaty  of  Adrianople,  Tui-key 
paid  Russia  twenty-nine  millions  of  dollars  to  defray  the 
expenses  of  the  wai',  opened  the  Dardanelles  to  the  fiee  navi- 
gation of  all  Russian  merchant  ships,  and  engaged  not  to 
maintain  any  fortitied  posts  on  the  north  of  the  Danube. 

In  July,  18;30,  the  Poles  rose  in  a  general  insuriection, 
endeavoiing  to  shake  off  the  Russian  yoke.  With  hun-icanc 
fury  the  armies  of  iS'icholas  swept  the  ill-fated  territoiy,  and 
Poland  fell  to  rise  no  more.  The  vengeance  of  the  tzar  was 
awful.  For  some  time  the  roads  to  Sibeiia  were  thronged 
with  noble  men  driven  into  exile.  , 

In  the  year  183;3,  Constantinople  was  imjjeriled  by  the 
armies  of  Mohammed  AM,  the  energetic  pacha  of  Egypt.  The 
sultan  implored  aid  of  Russia.  Nicholas  sent  an  army  and  a 
fleet,  and  drove  Mohammed  Ali  buck  to  Egypt.  As  i'omj)en- 
sation  for  this  essential  aid,  the  sultan  entered  into  a  treaty, 
by  which  both  powers  were  bound  to  afford  succor  in  case 
eitlier  was  attacked,  ami  Turkey  also  agreed  to  close  the 
Dardanelles  against  any  power  with  wluun  Russia  might  be  at 
war. 

The  revolution  in  Paris  of  1848,  which  expelled  Louis 
Phili[)pe  from  the  throne,  excited  the  hopes  of  the  i-epublican 
party  all  over  Europe.  The  Hungarians  rose,  inidi;r  Kossuth, 
in  iIk;  endeavor  to  shake  off  the  Austrian  yoke.  Francis 
Joseph  appealed  to  Russia  tor  aid.  Nicholas  dispatched  two 
liundred    thousand    men  to  crush  the  Ilungaiians,  and   they 

22* 


514  THE      EMPIRE      O  E      It  U  S  S  I  A  . 

M'ere  cruslied.  Xicliohis  asked  no  remuneration  for  these 
services.  He  felt  amply  repaid  in  having  arrested  the  juog- 
ress  of  constitutional  liberty  in  Europe. 

Various  circuiiistances,  each  one  trivial  in  itself,  conspired 
to  lead  Nicholas  in  1853  to  make  a  new  and  menacing  demon- 
stration of  power  in  the  direction  of  Constantinople,  An 
arm}'  was  marshaled  on  the  fi-ontiers,  and  a  large  fleet  asseui- 
bled  at  Odessa  and  Sevastopol.  England  and  France  were 
alarmed,  and  a  French  fleet  of  observation  enteied  the  watei's 
of  Greece,  while  the  English  fleet  at  Malta  strengthened 
itself  for  any  emergence.  The  prominent  question  professedly 
at  issue  between  Russia  and  Turkey  was  the  protection  which 
should  be  extended  to  members  of  the  Greek  ciuirch  residing 
within  the  Turkish  domains.  The  sultan,  strengthened  by 
the  secret  support  of  France  and  England,  refused  to  accede 
to  the  terms  which  Russia  demanded,  and  the  armies  of 
Nicholas  were  put  on  the  march  for  Constantinople.  England 
and  France  dispatched  their  fleets  for  the  protection  of  Tur- 
key. In  the  cam|)aign  of  Sevastopol,  witli  w  hich  our  readers 
■are  all  familiar,  Russia  received  a  check  which  will,  for  a  few 
years,  retard  her  advances. 

During  the  progress  of  the  campaign  of  Sevastopol,  the 
emperor  Nicholas,  in  February,  1855,  was  suddenly  seized 
with  the  influenza.  The  disease  made  rapid  progress.  He 
could  not  sleejj  at  night,  and  an  incessant  cough  racked,  his 
frame.  On  the  22d,  notwithstanding  the  intense  severity  of 
the  weather,  he  insisted  ujjon  i-eviewing  some  troops  who 
were  about  to  set  out  for  the  seat  of  war. 

"  Sire,"  said  one  of  his  physicians,  "  tliere  is  not  a  surgeon 
in  the  army  who  would  permit  a  common  soldier  to  leave  the 
hosjiital  in  the  state  in  which  you  are,  for  h(^,  would  be  sure 
that  his  patient  would  reenter  it  still  worse." 

"  'Tis  well,  gentlemen,"  said  the  emperor,  "  you  have  done 
your  duty,  and  I  shall  do  mine." 

Then    wrapping    his    cloak    about    him,    he    entered     his 


NICHOLAS.  515 

sledge.  It  was  a  bleak  winter's  day.  Pale,  languid  and 
coughing  incessantly,  he  rode  along  the  lines  ot'his  troo[)S.  lie 
returned  in  a  profuse  perspiration,  and  was  soon  seized  with 
a  relapse,  which  was  aggravated  by  the  disastrous  tidings  he 
was  receiving  from  Sevastopol.  He  rapidly  failed,  and  the 
empress,  anxious  as  to  the  result,  suggested  that  he  should 
receive  the  sacrament  of  the  Lord's  Supj^er. 

"  Xo  !"  the  emperor  replied.  "I  can  not  approach  so 
solemn  a  mystery  undressed  and  in  bed.  It  will  be  better 
when  I  can  do  it  in  a  suitable  manner."' 

The  empress,  endeavoring  to  conceal  her  tears,  commenced 
the  repetition  of  the  Lord's  prayer,  in  a  low  tone  of  voice.  As 
she  uttered  the  words  "Thy  will  be  done  on  earth  as  it  is  in 
heaven,"  he  fervently  added,  "  For  ever,  for  ever,  for  ever," 
Observing  that  his  wife  was  in  tears  he  inquired,  "  Why  do 
you  weep  ?  Am  I  in  danger?"  She,  afraid  to  utter  the  truth, 
said,  "  No."  He  added,  "  You  are  greatly  agitated  and  fa- 
tigued.    You  must  retire  and  take  some  rest." 

A  few  hours  after  thi'ee  o'clock  in  the  morning,  Dr.  Mandt 
entered.  ''Tell  me  candidly,"  said  the  emj^eror,  "what  my 
disease  is.  You  know  I  have  always  forewarned  you  to  in- 
form me  in  time  if  I  fell  seriously  ill,  in  order  that  I  might  not 
neglect  the  duties  of  a  Christian." 

"I  can  not  conceal  from  your  majesty,"  the  physician  re- 
plied, "that  the  disease  is  becoming  serious.  The  right  lung 
is  attacked." 

"  Do  you  mean  to  say  that  it  is  threatened  with  jjaralysis  ?" 
enquired  the  emperor.  The  doctor  replied,  "  If  the  disease 
do  not  yield  to  our  efforts,  such  may  indeed  be  the  result ; 
but  we  do  not  yet  observe  it,  and  we  still  have  some  hope  of 
seeing  you  restored," 

"Ah,"  said  the  emperor,  "I  now  comprehend  my  stale  and 
know  what  I  have  to  do."  Dismissing  his  physician  he  sum- 
moned his  eldest  son,  Alexander,  who  was  to  succeed  him 
upon  the  throne;    calmly  informed  him  that  he  deemed  his 


516  THE     EMPIRE      OF      RUSSIA. 

condition  hopeless  and  tliat  the  Iioui-  of  death  was  approach- 
ing. "Say  nothing,"  he  continued,  "to  your  mother  which 
may  alarm  her  fears  ;  but  send  immediately  for  my  confessor." 

The  archpriest  Bajanof  soon  entered,  and  commenced  the 
pi'ayers  which  precede  confession.  The  prayers  being  linished, 
the  emperor  crossed  himself  and  said,  "Lord  Jesus,  receive 
me  into  thy  bosom."  He  then  partook  of  the  sacrament  of 
the  Lord's  Supper  with  the  empress  and  his  son  Alexander. 
The  remaining  members  of  tlie  imperial  family  were  then. sum- 
moned into  the  chamber.-  lie  announced  with  firmness  his 
approaching  end,  and  gave  to  each  his  particular  blessing. 
The  empress,  overwhelmed  with  anguish,  cried  out,  "Oh,  God  ! 
can  I  not  die  with  him  ?" 

"  You  must  live  for  our  children,"  said  the  emperor;  and 
then  turning  to  his  son  Alexander,  he  added,  "  You  know 
that  all  my  anxiety,  all  my  efforts  had  for  their  object  the 
good  of  Russia.  My  desire  was  to  labor  until  I  could  leave 
you  the  empire  thoroughly  organized,  protected  from  all 
danger  from  without,  and  completely  tranquil  and  happy. 
But  you  see  at  what  a  time  and  under  what  cii'cuinstances  I 
die.  Such,  however,  seems  to  be  the  will  of  God.  Your  bur- 
den will  be  heavy." 

Alexander,  weeping,  replied,  "  If  I  am  destined  to  lose 
you,  I  have  the  certainty  that  in  heaven  you  will  pray  to  God 
for  Russia  and  for  us  all.  And  you  will  ask  His  aid  that  I 
may  be  able  to  sustain  the  burden  which  He  will  have  im- 
posed upon  me." 

"  Yes,"  the  emperor  replied,  "  I  have  always  prayed  for 
Russia  and  for  you  all.  There  also  will  I  pray  for  you." 
Then  speaking  to  the  whole  assembled  group,  he  added,  "  Re- 
main always,  as  hitherto,  closely  united  in  family  love." 

Several  of  the  important  officers  of  the  State  were  then 
introduced.  The  emperor  thanked  them  for  their  faithful 
services  and  tried  devotion,  and  recommended  them  to  his 
son  as  worthy  of  all  ti'ust,  gave  them  his  benediction  and  bade 


NICHOLAS.  517 

tlieni  fai-ewell.  At  liis  request  his  domestic  servants  were 
tlien  brought  into  the  room.  To  one,  who  was  especially 
devoted  to  the  empress,  he  said, 

"I  fear  that  I  have  not  sufficiently  thanked  you  for  the 
care  which  you  took  of  the  empress  when  she  was  last  ill.  Be 
to  her  for  the  future  what  you  liave  been  in  my  life-time,  and 
salute  my  beautiful  Peterhoff,  the  fii-st  time  you  go  there 
with  her." 

These  interviews  being  closed,  he  addressed  his  son  and 
Count  d'Adi'lberg  respecting  his  obsequies.  He  selected  the 
room  in  wIul-Ii  his  remains  were  to  be  laid  out,  and  the  spot 
for  his  tomb  in  the  cathedral  of  the  Apostles  Peter  and  Paul. 
"Let  my  funeral,"  said  he,  "be  conducted  with  the  least 
possible  expense  or  display,  as  all  the  resources  of  the  empire 
are  now  needed  for  the  })rosecution  of  the  war."  While  con- 
versing, news  came  that  dispatches  had  ari-ived  from  Sevas- 
topol. Tiie  emperor  deeming  that  he  had  already  abdicated, 
declined  perusing  them,  saying,  "  I  have  nothing  more  to  do 
with  earth."  Alexander  sat  for  several  hours  at  the  bed  side, 
receiving  the  last  directions  of  his  father. 

On  the  2d  of  March  the  emperor  remained  upon  his  bed, 
unable  to  articulate  a  word,  and  with  difficulty  diawing  each 
breath.  At  noon  he  revived  a  little  and  requested  his  son,  iti 
his  name,  to  thank  the  garrison  at  Sevastopol  for  llicir  hero- 
ism. He  then  sent  a  message  to  the  King  of  Prussia,  whose 
sister  he  had  married,  "Say  to  Fi'ederic  that  I  trust  he  will 
remain  the  same  fiiend  of  Russia  he  has  ever  been,  and  that 
he  will  never  forget  tlie  dying  words  of  our  father." 

The  agony  of  death  was  now  upon  him,  and  he  was  speech- 
less. His  confessor  repeated  the  prayers  for  the  dying.  At 
twenty  minutes  past  twelve  he  ex])ired,  holding,  till  the  last 
moment,  the  hand  of  the  em])ress  and  of  his  son  Alexander. 

Alexandei'  II.,  who  now  occupies  the  throne,  was  born  the 
29th  of  April,  1818.  He  is  a  young  man  of  noble  character 
and  vei-y  thoroughly  educated.     At  the  age  of  sixteen,  ac- 


518  THE     EMPIKE      OF      EUSSIA. 

cording  to  the  laws  of  the  empire,  he  was  dechired  to  be  of 
age  and  took  tlie  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  throne.  From  that 
time  he  lived  by  his  fathei-'s  side  in  the  cabinet  and  in  the 
court.  His  fare  was  frugal,  his  bed  hard,  and  liis  duties  ardu- 
ous in  the  extreme.  In  April,  1841,  he  manied  the  princes; 
Maria,  daughter  of  the  Grand  Duke  of  Darmstadt.  She  is 
reported  to  be  a  lady  of  many  accomplishments  and  of  the 
most  sincere  and  unaffected  piety.  He  is  himself  a  man  of 
deep  religious  feeling,  and  many  who  know  him,  esteem  him 
to  be  a  sincere  and  spiritual  Christian.  What  character  J,he 
temptations  of  the  throne  may  develop,  time  only  can  deter- 
mine. He  is  now  struggling,  against  the  opposition  of  the 
nobles,  to  emancipate  the  boors  from  the  slavery  of  serfdom, 
being  ambitious  of  elevating  all  his  subjects  to  the  highest 
manhood.  The  temporal  welfare  of  perhajjs  ninety  millions 
of  men  is  placed  in  the  hands  of  this  one  monarch.  An  in- 
discreet act  may  plunge  all  Russia  into  the  horrors  of  a  civil 
war,  or  kindle  flames  of  strife  through  Europe  which  no  power 
but  that  of  God  can  quench.  The  eyes  of  Europe  are  fixed 
upon  liim,  and  the  friends  of  the  Redeemer,  the  world  over, 
watch  his  movements  with  solicitude  and  with  prayer. 


INDEX. 


Abacuef,   (Alexis)  a]ipointed  minister  of 

justice,  228. 
ADr.T\Nori,K,  Treaty  of,  513. 
Akh.met,  Defiant  reply  of,  to  Ivan,  178. 
Alains,  cliarncter  ami  life  of  the,  19. 
Ale.xandek  succeeds  Yaroslaf  over  Novgo- 
rod, 1-27. 
ordered  to  attend  Bati,  127. 
appointeil    King    of   Southern 

Kiissla,  1'2S. 
his  reply  to  the  Pope,  128. 
conciliates  Berki,  12S. 
Alexander  (Ncvski)  puts  down  a  rebellion 
hende.l  bv  his  son,  129. 
death  of,  129. 

Yaroslaf  of  Tiver  succeeds,  130. 
Alexasdek  (son   of  Michel)   ascends    the 
throne,  141. 
outlawed  bv  Usbeck,  142. 
flight  and  death  of,  142. 
Alexander  I.,  grief  of,  on  the  assassination 
of  Paul.  471. 
re-establishes  friendly  rela- 
tions witli  Enghand,  473. 
rezulations  of  474. 
niessaire  of,  to  Napoleon,  477. 
defeat  Of,  at  Ansterlitz,  479. 
his  interview  with  the  em- 
bassador of  Napoleon,  480. 
defeat  at  Eyiau,  4S4. 
implores  peace,  4S7. 
his  .admiration  for  Napoleon, 

4S7. 
forced  to  turn  against  Napo- 
leon, 492. 
magnanimity  towards  Napo- 
leon. 493. 
deatli  of,  497. 
Alexandep.  II.  Kucceeds  Nicholas  on  the 
throne,  517. 
character  of,  518. 
Alexis  succeeds  IJoinanow,  291. 
marriaire  of,  292. 
his  concessions  to  the  mob,  294. 
ids  conquests  in  Ptdand,  295. 
good  works  of,  29l>. 
de.'ilh  of,  299. 
Alexis  (son  of  Peter  the  Great)  bad  char- 
acter of,  843. 
marriage  of.  344. 
letters  from,  to  liis  father,  351. 
flieht  of.  2i>2. 
disinherited  by  his  father,  854. 


Alexis  plots  against  the  crown,  855. 
condemned  to  de.ath,  358. 
death  of,  859. 
America,  discovery  of,  by  the  Normans,  23. 
Amiens,  treaty  of,  470. 
Anastasia,  death  of,  255. 
Andre    (of   Souzdal)   usurps    the    Russian 
throne,  88. 
moderation  of,  92. 
submission  of.  95. 
homage  of  Russia  to,  95. 
assassination  of,  96. 
sword  of,  90. 
abolishes  appanases.  111. 
Andre  (of  Gorodelz)  dethrones  his  brother 
Dmitri,  1:^8. 
siicceeds  Dmitri  as  sovereisn,  134. 
death  of,  13.T. 
Anne  (of  (Jonstantinople)  forced  to  marry 
Vladimir.  55. 
Christian  intluciice  of,  over  her  hus- 
band, 57. 
death  of,  58. 
Anne  (of  Enirland)  letter  of,  to  Peter  the 

Great.  342. 
Anne  (Duchess  of  Courland)  offered   the 
throne,  300. 
energy  of.  307. 
deatii  of,  30S. 
Anecdote  of  the  jireservation  of  the  Greek 
libraries,  19. 
of  the  love  of  Igor,  .32. 
of  the  Tartar's  theoloiry,  127. 
of   Vassili  and  the  Greek   phy- 
sician, 21)1. 
of  IVter  tlie  Great,  311. 
of  Peter  the  Great,  320. 
of  Peter  III.,  385. 
Appanages  abolished  by  Andre,  111. 
AscoLOD  and  Dm,  enterprise  and  conquests 
of,  29. 
conversion  of,  29 
assassination  of,  31. 
AsTRAcnAN  added  to  Russia,  244. 
Athens  t.aken  by  the  Goths,  19. 
Attila  the  king  of  the  Iluns,  conquests  of, 

21. 
Avars,  conquests  of  the,  22. 
Aristocbaoy,  gradual  rise  of  an,  25. 


15. 


Bajazet  II.,  letter  of  Ivan  to,  186. 
reply  of,  189. 


520 


INDEX, 


Baptism  of  tho  Knssian  nation  in  a  day,  56. 

in  Litlmaiiia,  155. 
Rarbarians,  punishment  of  the.  87. 
Batiioki  (Stephen)  elected  King  of  Poland, 

262. 
Bati  given   the   command   of   the    Tartar 
horde,  119. 
depopulates  Rezdan,  119. 
captures  Moscow,  12:1. 
takes  and  burns  Vladimir,  122. 
disastrous  course  of,  123. 
Iilunders  Kief,  124. 
possessions  of,  125. 
orders  Yaroslaf  to  appear  before  him, 

125. 
summons  Alexander,  127. 
death  of,  128. 
Borl<i  succeeds,  128. 
Bayadour,  chief  of  tlie  Mogols,  113. 
Beards  ordered  to  be  removed,  327. 
Belsky    (Ivan)   elected   regent  of   Russia, 
209. 
reforms  of.  209. 
assassination  of,  212. 
BiELO  (Ozero  Sineous)  establishes  his  court 

at,  27. 
BiELSKi  (Bogdan)  his  attempt  to  grasp  the 
throiie,270. 
his  e.NiK-,  271. 
"Black  Dkatu,"  ravasios  of  the.  144. 
Bohemia,  aid  from,  to  Ysiaslaf.  80. 
Bokhara  burned  by  the  Tartars,  116. 
BoLESLAS,  (Kinir  of  Poland)  assists  Sviato- 
jiolk  to  defeat  Yaroslaf,  59. 
seizes  the  sister  of  Yaroslaf  as 

his  concubine,  59. 
attempt  to  i)oison.  59. 
forced  to  fly  from  Kief,  59. 
BoLESLAS  II.  (of  I'oliuid)  reception  of  Ysias- 
laf by,  63. 
robs  Ysiaslaf  and  e.xpels  him, 

63. 
refunds  the  treasure,  65. 
Bosporus,  the  (ireeks   jilant  their  colonies 

alonir  Miesliore  of  the,  17. 
Bulgaria  conquered  by  Sviataslaf,  46. 

the  cai)ital  conveyed  from  Kief 

to,  48. 
conquered  by  Georges,  72. 
coniiition     of,     100;    expedition 
against,  101. 


Caucasus,  the  eagles  of  the  Russians  plant- 
ed on  the,  IS. 
Cathakine  I.,  first  appearance  of,  3.3.S. 

public  marriage  of,  with  Pe- 
ter, 3-15. 
crowned  empress,  36 1. 
assumes     the     government, 

364. 
death  of,  365. 
Catiiauine  II.,  early  life  of,  380. 

autobiograjihy  of.  881. 
seizes  the  throne,  .392. 
manifesto  of,  on  the  death 

of  Peter  III.,  40.3. 
her  labors  and  reforms,  404. 
adminiNtrntion  of.  40.5. 
urged  by  her  ministers  to 

marry,  407. 
numerous  titles  of,  409. 


CATHARINE  II.,  attempt  to  a.ssassinate,  410. 
inoculation  of,  413. 
entert.iinmcnts  of,  415. 
her   schemes  with    Henry, 

Prince  of  Prussia,  417. 
conquers  tlie  Turks.  41S. 
corres[)ondence  of,  423. 
peace  with  Turkey  effected 

by,  425. 
personal  appearance  of,  426. 
cons[)iracy  against  427. 
interview  of,  with  Joseph 

II.,  437. 
her  education  of  her  chil- 
dren, 439. 
erection   of   the  statue    to 

Peter  the  Oreat  by,  439. 
seizes  the  Crimea.  441. 
secures  peace  with  Turkey, 

444. 
toleration  of,  445. 
her  journey  to   the  Crimea, 

448. 
makes  war  on  Poland,  461. 
death  of.  452. 
character  of.  453. 
CiiANCELLEK  (Captain)  voy.ase  of,  245. 
CuARLEs    XII.    (of    .Sweden)  ascends  the 
throne,  .328. 
con(iucrs  the  Russians,  -829. 
drives  Augustus  from  Po- 

lan<l,  .335. 
wounded,  388. 
utter  defeat  of,  339. 
escajie    of,   from    Turkey, 

846. 
death  of,  860. 
Chemyaka,  see  Dmiti!!. 
CiiKiisoN,  church  built  at,  in  commemora- 
tion of  the  baptism  of  Vladi- 
mir, .5.5. 
Children,  the  female  .allowed  to  be  killed, 

24. 
China,  irruption  of  the  Tartars  into,  115. 
Christians,  perseention  of  the,  by  the  Tar- 
tars, 136. 
Christianity,  its  I'ntrance  into  Russi.o,  29. 
diffusion  of,  into  Souzdal,  83. 
attempts  of  Andre  to  e.xtend, 
96. 
Chronology  of  Rn.ssi.a:  Rurick,  Sineous  and 
Truvor     jointly   rule  over 
Russia,  27. 
Rurick  succeeds  Sineous  and 

Truvor,  28. 
Ascolod  and  Dir  reign  over  a 

portion  of  Rus.si.a.  29. 
Gleg    succeeds   Ascolod    and 

Dir,  81. 
Igor  succeeds  Gleg,  38. 
Glga  succeeds  Gleg,  42. 
Sviatosl.af  succeeds  Glg.a,  45. 
Yaropolk  succeeds  Glga,  50. 
Vladimir  succeeds  Yaropolk, 

52. 
Sviatopolk  succeeds  Vladimir, 

59. 
Yaroslaf  succeeds  Sviatopolk, 

60. 
Vseslaf  succeeds  Yaroslaf,  62. 
Ysiaslaf  succeeds  Vseslaf,  63. 
Vsevolod    succeeds    Ysiaslaf, 
66, 


INDEX 


521 


Chronology  of  llnssia:  Sviatopolk  succeeds 
Vsevolod,  69. 

Monoinaquo  succeeds  Sviato- 
pi.lk.  71. 

Mstisliif  succeeds  Mono- 
iiinque,  75. 

Vladiiiiircivitch  succeeds 

Msfislaf,  77. 

Vsevolod  succeeds  Vladimir- 
ovitcli,  77. 

Iffor  siiceceds  Vsevolod,  7S. 

Ysi:if<lafsiici'oods  It'or,  77. 

lii)>ti>l:.l'.Mic.H>-.ls  Y^ia^l:lt■.  SI. 

Ci-or-cs  ^Ul■L•L■.■d^  i;iisti>!ar.  SI. 

Davidovitch  succeeds  Geor- 
ges, S2. 

Kostislaf  succeeds  Davido- 
vitcli,  83. 

Georsievitch  succeeds  Kostis- 
laf. 84. 

Mstislaf  Ysiaslavitch  succeeds 
Georgievitcli,  S6. 

Andre  succeeds  Msti.slaf,  89. 

Michel  succeeds  Andre,  97. 

Vsevolod  succeeds  Mieliel,100. 

Georges    succeeds    Vsevolod, 

Octai  succeeds  Georges,  125. 
Bati  succeeils  Octai,  1'27. 
Dmitri  of  Moscow  secures  the 

throne,  140. 
Tamerlane   succeeds   Dmitri, 

155. 
Ivan  III.  tlirows  off  the  Mo- 

gol  power,  17i 
V.assili   succeeds    Ivan     III.. 

191. 
Helenc   (as  regent)  succeeds 

Vassili,  205. 
Schouisky  (as  regent)  succeeds 

Ilelene,  2()S. 
Ivan  Belsky  (as  regent)  suc- 
ceeds Schouisky,  209. 
Ivan    IV.   seizes   his    throne, 

214. 
Feodor  succeeds  Ivan  IV.,  270. 
Boris  succeeds  Feodor,  275. 
Feodor  11.  succeeds  Boris,  279. 
Dmitri  succeeds  Feodor  II., 

2S0. 
Zuski  succeeds  Dmitri,  2S3. 
Michel      Feodor     Uomanow 

elected  king.  287. 
Alexis    succeeds     Konianow, 

291. 
Feodor  succeeds  Alexis,  299. 
Sophia  (as  regent)    succeeds 

Feodor.  SO:?. 
Peter  I.  succeeds  Sophia,  810. 
Catharine  succeeds   Peter  I., 

364. 
Peter  II.  succeeds  Catharine, 

865. 
Anne  succeeds  Peter  II.,  807. 
Ivan  V.  succeeds  Anne,  808. 
Ellicabcth   succeeils   Ivan   V., 

369. 
Peter  HI.  succeeds  Klizabeth, 

3S7. 
Catharine  II.  succeeds  Peter 

III.,  4118. 
Paul  I.  succeeds  Catharine  II., 

4M. 


CiiRONOLOQY  of  Russia:  Alexander  succeeds 
Paul  1.,  471. 
Nicholas  succeeds  Alexander 

1.,  502. 
Alexander  II. succeeds  Nicho- 
las, 517. 
During  the  Tartar  reign,  only 
the  Tartar  conqueror  is  usu- 
ally given. 
Ciiuucii  built  at  clierscui.  55. 

built  on  tlie  site  of  the  idol  of  Pe- 
roune,  50. 
CiviLiZATiox,  the  Itussians  indebted  to  the 

Greeks  for  their,  168. 
Commerce  of  llnssia,  1 13. 

between    England   and    Kussia, 

247. 
increase  of,  249. 
CoNSTANTiNE  (prince  of  Y.aroslavle)  cl.ahns 
the  throne,  1U4. 
burns  Kostroma,  104. 
ascends  the  imperial  throne. 

1(j8. 
effeminacy  of,  108. 
death  of.  1(.9. 
CoNST.\NTiNE  resliTus  his  riaht  to  the  throne, 

498. 
Constantinople,  the  city  of,  168. 
"  CouKT  Favorite,"  ollice  of  tlie,  43:). 
Cri.mea.  taken  possession  of   bv   Vladimir, 

54. 
Crusaders  driven  from  tlie  Imperial  city, 

1U8. 
Cyrtlle    (bishop   of   Novgorod)    effects    a 
treaty   between  Novgorod  .and 
the  Tartars,  181. 

D. 

Dacia,  the  countries  forming  the  province 
of,  19. 
conquered  and  divided  by  Trajan, 
19. 
Daniel  (of  Crallicla)  attempts  of,  to  eman- 
cipate Kussia.  121). 
crowned  emperor,  120. 
Daniel  (i)rlnco  of  Moscow)  declares  inde- 
pendence, 184. 
Davidovitch   (of    Tchernigof)   invited   to 
seize  the  throne  of  Kussia, 
82. 
driven   from  the  throne  by 

Kostislaf,  88, 
fll<rht  of,  to  Moscow,  88. 
Danielovitcii    (Jean)     appointed     <;rand 
Prince    by   the    Tartars, 
142. 
rclgu  and  death  of,  143. 
Diana,  temple  of,  burned  at  Kphesus,  19. 
DiUKROT,    Visit   (d',  to   i'atharine,  ami    her 

correspondence  with  him,  428. 
DiNSDALE  (Dr.   Thomas)  introduces  inocu- 
lation, 411. 
Discoveries  during  the  reign  of  Ivan,  190. 
Dniicpeu,  bapti.im  of  the  nation  In  the,  56. 
plunder  of  tiie  commerce  on  the, 
80. 
D.MiTRi  ascends  the  throne,  188. 

<lrives  An.lre  from  NovL'oriid,  1-83. 
disasters  and  <lealh  of,  184. 
Dmitri  (son  of  Michel)  assassinates  Georges, 
140. 
execution  of,  141. 


522 


INDEX. 


Dmitri   (of  Sonzdiil)  accession   of,  to    the 
throne,  Uii. 
deposed.  146. 
D.MiTi'.i  (of  Mo^eow)  crowned  sovereign,  146. 
conquers  the  Tartars,  147. 
WDUiiiled,  l.TJ  ;  death  of,  156. 
D.MiTRi   OiiE\iVAK.\    assumes   the   govern- 
ment, 166  ;   death  of,  166. 
Dmitri  (prince,  son  of  Ivan  IV.)  assassina- 
tion of,  274. 
Griska  clai  nis  to  be,  27S ;  see  Griska. 
DiMiTRV  declines  the  throne,  181. 
Drevliens,  debasement  of  the  tribe  of,  25. 
revolt  of  the,  against  Igor,  88. 
their   punishment  an<l  enthu- 
siasm of,  for  Olga,  42. 
DuouTSK  burned  by  Yaropolok,  73. 

E. 
Eastern  Question,  the  cause  of  the  pres- 
ent war  of  the,  5J7. 
Ecclesi-Vstical  Council   called  to   rectify 
evils  in  the  church,  132. 
Elizabeth  (daughter  of  Peter  the   Great) 
conspiracy  of,  SOS. 
seizes  the  throne,  369. 
victories  of,    over  Frederic    of 

Prussia,  375. 
death  of,  377  ;  character  of,  378. 
E.VUASS.4.D0R  of  Andre  insulted,  92. 

the  first  from  linssia,  248. 
Emigration  of  Kussians  to  the  mouth  of 

the  Volga,  97. 
Emperoiw,  see  Uussia  and  Chronology. 
England,  influence  of,  in  Europe,  244. 

amiciible    arrangement    of    Eussia 

with,  219. 
friendshi[)  between  Eussia  and,  248. 
Entertainment,  description  of  a  royal,  41.5. 
y.TiQUETTE,  laws  of,  as  to  young  ladies,  203. 
Ei-LAU,  battle  of,  4S3. 


Famine  in  Russia,  105. 
Feodof    (son    of    Ivan    IV.)   ascends    the 
throne,  270. 
his  incapacity,  273;  death  of,  274. 
Feodoh  (son  of  .Vlcxis)  ascends  throne,  299. 
makes  peace  witU  Poland.  300. 
.  marriage  of,  SOi ;  death  of,  302. 
Feudal  System,  implanting  of  the,  28. 

G. 
Genghis  Khan,  pretendeil  divine  authority 
of,  ll.^. 
irruption  into  China,  115. 
burns  Bokhara,  116. 
recalls  his  troopsfroin Russla.llS. 
death  of,  IIS. 

nomin.ates  Octai  as  his  successor, 
IIS;  See  Te.moutchin. 
George  (son  of  Andre"!  sent  embassador  to 
Novg(,rod,  92. 
returns  to  Moscow,  94. 
Georges  (sou  of  Monomaque)  expedition  of, 

to  l}ul<;aria,  72. 
Georges  (of  Moscow)  assists  Sviatoslaf,  79. 
enters  Kief  in  triumph.  8  i. 
drives  Uostislaffrom  the  throne,  81. 
death  of,  81. 
Georges  I.  (brother  of  V.sevolod)  ascends 
the  I{u.ssian  throne,  104. 
burns  Uostof,  104. 


Georges  1.  defeated  by  Mstislaf,  106. 

surrenders  himself  to  Mstislaf, 

and  e.xiled  lOS. 
disappears  from  history,  lOS. 
Georges  II.  ascends  throne  of  Kussia,  109. 
atlaoKs  Ochel.  109. 
fouuils  Nijni  Novgorod,  110. 
death   of, '122. 
Georges  III  (of  Moscow)  obtains  assistance 
from  the  Tartars.  136. 
defeated  by  Michel,  137. 
secures  the  throne.  140. 
assassination  of,  140. 
Georgievitcii    (of    Souzilal)    Davidovitch 
seeks  aid  from,  S3, 
his  system  of  government,  84. 
GiiiREi  (Devlet)  character  of.  251. 
Gleb  (prince  of  Muisk)  takes  Sloutsk,  73. 

capture  and  death  of,  73. 
Gleb  left  in  possession  of  Kief;  flight  of,  89. 
Gordon  (General)  entrusted  with  the  royal 

troops,  317. 
GosTOMYSLE  raises  an   embassy  to  visit  the 

Normans,  27. 
Goths,  dev.astatlou  of  the,  19. 
empire  of  the.  20. 

suicide  of  Ilermanric,  king  of  the,  20. 
Greece,  overrun  by  the  Avars,  22. 

inva<led  by  Monomaque,  72. 
Greek  Ciiuitoii,  declared  to  be  the  best, 53. 
Greeks,  colonies  of  the.  on  the  Bosporus,  17. 
coalesce  with   the  Bulgarians  and 
expel  Sviatoslaf,  48. 
Gregory  VII.,  see  Pope. 
Griska  assumes  to  be  prince  Dmitri,  and 
Invades  Russia,  27S. 
crowned  emperor,  280. 
perplexities  of,  281. 
marriage  of,  by  proxy,  281. 
death  of,  283. 

Polish  adventurer  cl.aiins  to  be,  284 
hung  at  Moscow,  286. 
GuDENovk^  (Boris)  his  supremacy  over  Feo- 
dor,  271. 
assassinates  Dmitri,  274. 
his    subterfuge    to    obtain     the 

throne,  275. 
crowned  emperor,  276. 
Gustavus  III.,  interview  of  Catharine  with, 

44=3. 
Gyda,  wife  of  Monomaqne,  75. 

II. 

IIelene  appointed  regent  of  Ivan  IV.,  204. 

despotic  atrocities  of,  204. 

death  of,  207. 

Hellespont,  origin  of  the  name,  507. 

Henry   IV.  (of  Germany)  solicited  to  aid 

Ysiaslaf,  63. 
Henry  (prince  of  Prussia)  visits  Catharine, 
414. 
schemes  of,  with  Cath.arine,  417. 
IIeueditary  Descent  the  cause  of  war,  112. 
IIkrmanric,  suicide  of  king,  21. 
Hermitage,  description  of  the.  416. 
Herodotus,  bis  account   of  the  interior  of 

Kussia,  17. 
Holy  Alliance,  formation  of  the,  493. 
Hungary,  aid  IVom.  sent  to  Vsiaslaf,  SO. 
alliance  of,  with  Russia,  1S3. 
revolt  of,  against  Austria, 518. 
IIuNS,  Russia  dev.astateil  by  the, 20. 

revolting  appearance  of  tlie,  20. 


INDEX. 


523 


Huss,  Attila,  kino:  of  tlio.21. 

(lisappeaiance  ot'tbo,  21.  . 

I. 
Idols,  tlie  Oreok  and  Sc.Invonian.  26. 

ili'stnictioii  111"  tlio,  in  liussia,  55. 
looK,  .issuiin's  till'  frdvcniinoiit  of  Itnssi.a 
uikUm-  tlu-  siiardiansliiii  <)t'01(.%  3l». 
fears  to  claim  his  crown,  32. 
his  love  and  uianiaio,  iiii. 
a.ssuines  tlu-  crovcrniucnt  of  Russia,  8S. 
attack  on  Coiistantinnple,  30. 
his  (K-I'oat  b.v  the  Greeks,  39. 
second  attack  on  Constantinople,  40. 
concludes  treaty  witli  the  Greeks,  40. 
death  of, -11. 
Igor  II.  receivi-s  throne  of  Russia,  7S, 
made  l)risoner,  73. 
enters  a  convent,  7S. 
assassination  of,  79. 
Ilmex,  army  on  the  shores  of  the  lake  of,  80. 
Impostor,  see  Gkiska. 
Inventions  duriuLr  the  reign  of  Ivan  III.  190. 
Ivan  III.  ascends  the  throne,  Ifi;t. 
early  inarriaire  of,  ICS. 
captures  Ke/.an,  170.  • 
atHanced  to  Snphia  of  Greece,  174. 
marriage  of,  17.5. 
Ills  reforms,  170. 
letter  of  Vassian  to,  179. 
proposals  for  tlie  marriage  of  bis 

daUL'hter,  ls5. 
letter  of  to  Sult.m  IJajazet  II.,  186. 
letter  of  the  Sultan  to,  1S8. 
death  of  the  wife  of,  169. 
marriaie  of  tiie  sou  of,  189. 
death  of.  IsO. 

discoveries  and  inventions  during 
the  reign  of,  190. 
Ivan-  IV.  acknowledged  as  t/.ar.  204. 

asserts  claim  to  the  throne,  213. 
coronation  of,  214. 
marriage  of,  216. 
change  in  the  character  of.  221. 
his  address  to  the  peoi>lc.  223. 
defeat  of,  liy  the  Tartars,  226. 
capture  of  kezan  by,  235. 
enthusiastic  reception  of,  2-37. 
serious  illness  of  240. 
rel)uke  of,  to  Sweden.  252. 
attaches  Livonia,  to  Russia,  253. 
death  of  the  wife  of,  255. 
matrimoni.d    projects   with    Po- 
land, 2.-,5 
abdication  of,  256. 
petitioueil  to  resume  the  throne, 

257. 
gooil  will  of  Enirlaud  to,  259. 
ilivdit  of,  261. 

strives  to  be  umpire  in  Poland,263. 
defiant  <lemands  of  Poland  on,  264. 
nn[)opularity  of,  266. 
death  of  liisson,  depression  at,  267. 
death  of,  268. 
his  sons,  270. 
IVA.N  V.  succee  Is  to  the  throne,  368. 
deposed  by  Kli/.abeth,  36S. 
Impri.soninentand  suireringsof,370. 
assassination  of,  371. 
IvAK  (brother  of  Peter  1.)  seclusion  and 

death  of,  Klo. 
IvANOviTCii  (Jean,  of  Moscow)  reign  and 
death  of,  140. 


J. 
Jacob  (General)  deserts  the  Russians  and 
defends  Azov,  315. 
eaptureil  ancl  Iiuul'.  315. 
Jbav,  base  tlattery  of,  to  Machmet,  162. 
Jean  Dameuivitcii,  see  Da.nielovitch. 
Jena,  battle  of,  482. 

Jews,  atti^mpt  of  Andre  to  convert  the,  96. 
JosKi'H  11.  (of  Germany)  eccentricity  of,  437. 
"isit  to  St.  Petersburg,  438. 

K. 
Kavg  ADi,  taken  possession  of  by  Michel,  137. 
Kezan,  capture. 1  bv  Ivan  III.,  170. 
siege  of.  229. 
capture  of,  235. 
insurrection  in,  240. 
Kuan,  see  Genghis. 

KiiozAiis,  the,  conquered  by  Sviatoslaf,  46. 
Kief,  beauty  of  the  city  of,  28. 

the  Norman  adventurers  Ascolod  aud 

Dir  remain  tliere,  29. 
taken  by  Oleg.  31. 
the  capital  of  R\issla  transferred  from, 

to  liuliraria,  48.    ^ 
captured  by  Vladimir.  !>'2. 
dieoratiou  of,  by  Varoslaf,  61. 
punishnu'ut  of  by  Ysiaslaf,  63. 
destructi(Ui  of  the  citizens  of  66. 
governmeutoffered  to  .Monomaque,70. 
festival  in  honor  of  the  new  reiiju.  71. 
tlie  inliabitants  of  invite  Vladimiro- 

viteh  to  ascend  the  throne  of,  76. 
triumpli:il  entrance  ofGeorges into,  80. 
Roman  appointed  prince  of  9-. 
plundered  liy  the  Tartars,  124. 
Kolomna,  emiirration  from  Moscow  to,  163. 
KosTRo.MA,  burned  by  Constantine,  104. 
KoTiiiAN    (i)rince   of   Polovtsi)   retreats  to 

Hungary,  123. 
KouLiKOi",  battle  of  149. 
KouKiA  (cliief  of  tlie  Petclieneguos)  defeats 
Sviatoslaf  and  makes  a  drinking 
cup  of  his  skull,  49. 

L. 

Ladislaus  elected  emperor,  286. 

his  election  declared  void,  287. 
Laharpe,  efforts  of  for  the   education  of 

Alexander,  473. 
Leczinsky  (Stanislaus)  placed  on  the  P(dish 

throne,  335. 
Leon  (of  Constantine)  imbecility  of  35. 
LiuKARY,  foundation   of  the   roval,   of  St. 

Petersburg,  3-15. 
Lii'i'ENow  (Zachary)  puts  tlio  Polish  garri- 
son to  dVatli,  287. 
London,  Peter  the  Great's  visit  to,  322. 
London  Post.man,  extract  from  the,  322. 

M. 
Maoedon,  see  Piiilii'  of. 
Machmet,  llattery  of  Jean  to,  102. 
Maiiomkt   11.,  wars    with  Genghis    Khan, 
116. 
death  of,  116. 
Marcow  (Russian  endi:issador)  ordered  to 

leave  I'' ranee,  47(i. 
Makia  (wife  of  V.sevolod  III.)  character  of, 

102. 
MARitiAiiK,  singular  customs  In,  289. 
.Maktviw,   Ivan    and    Thi^oihu-e,    the    first 
Christians,  53. 


524 


I  X  D  EX . 


Menzikoff,  sl<etcli  of  the  life  of,  3-36. 

banislu'd   bv  I'rederic  II.,  866. 
.Icath  of.  866. 
MiciLvEL  III.  (.of  CJoiistantinople),  29. 
Michel  (of  Tclifrnij^of,  sou  of  Monomaque) 
olfui-i'il  tiic  tiirone  of  Eussia,  i)i. 
his  n'iu;n  ami  <k'atli,  9S. 
Michel  (of  Tver)  siiccooils  .Andre   on   tbe 
tin-one  of  Russia,  lo6. 
presents  liiniself  before  the  Tartar 

horde,  18S. 
c.veeution  of,  140. 
Missionaries  sent  tliroii!.'li  lvus.sia  to  teacli 

Christianity,  56. 
MoGOLS,  character  of  the.  118. 

civilization  of  the,  IVi. 
MoT,DAVi.\,  the  inlial)itants  of,  S3. 
Monarchy,  recapitulation  of  the   Kussian, 

110  ;  see  CnRONOnxiY. 
Monomaque  offered  the  Itussian  crown,  70. 
he  decliiics  it,  71. 
goes  to  the  rescue  of  Kief,  71. 
his  expeditions  to  extend  the 

empire,  72. 
sons  of  72. 
comiuers   the    invaders    from 

the  t!aspian  Sea,  72. 
expedition  asraiust  Greece,  72. 
"  golden  bonnet"  of,  78. 
death  of.  78. 

parting  letter  of,  to  his  chil- 
dren, 74. 
wife  of,  75. 
MoKOSON,  ambitious  sclienies  of,  291. 

marriage  of.  292. 
Moscow,  first  historical  mention  of,  79. 
supremacy  of,  S3, 
cajiture  of.  S9. 
burned,  9S. 

ca[itured  by  Bati,  120. 
flight  of  Georges  II.  from,  121. 
becomes  the  capital.  142. 
burned  by  the  Tartars,  154. 
appearance  of,  in  1520,  202. 
destroyed  by  Are,  218. 
grand  fete  at,  239. 
destroyed  by  the  Tartars,  261. 
bnrned  by  the  Poles,  2S7. 
MsTiSLAF  (son  of  .Slonomaque)  his  expedi- 
tions and  victories,  72. 
succeeds  his  father,  75. 
death  of,  76. 
MsTisLAF  YsiASLAViTCU,  s'lccceds  Rostislaf 
over  llnssia,  86. 
proclamation  of  87. 
tiiglit  of,  from  Kief,  89. 
return  to  Kief,  89. 
death  of  90. 
MsTiSLAF  (son  of  Andre)  ambition  of,  90. 

summoned  Novgorod  to  surren- 
der, 91. 
defeat  of,  91. 
MsTiSLAF  (prince  of  Galiteh)  appears  in  pub- 
lic. 105. 
aids  Oonstantine,  105. 
defeats  Georges.  106. 
beaten  by  the  Tartars,  117. 
Munich  (General)  advice  of,  to  Peter,  895. 
appearance  of,  before  Catharine,4ol. 

N. 

Napoleon,  victories  of,  405. 

returns  Itussian  prisoners,  467. 


Napoleon,  remarks  of,  on  P.aul  I.,  472. 
reply  of,  to  Alexander,  478. 
victorious  at  Austerlitz,  479. 
lettir  of,  to  king  of  Prussia,  4S5. 
exiled  to  Klba,"^98. 
signs  the  "Holy  Alliance,"  496. 
Nf.peia,  tlie  tirst  i;us>iau  einbas-sador,  248. 

his  reception  in  Lnndon.  248. 
Nestor,  record  of,  of  the  Christians  in  Con- 
stantinople 41. 
Nicholas,  tal<es  oath  of  allegiance  to  Con- 
stantine,  uol. 
ascends  the  throne,  502. 
puts  down  the  rebellion,  503. 
power  ot,  506. 

assists  Turks  against  Egypt,  513. 
crushes  Hungarian  revolt,  513. 
defeated  at  Sevastopol,  574. 
death  of,  517. 
NiJNi  NovuoiiOD,  Georges  II.  founds  the 

city  of,  110. 
Noble,  requisite  for  bi-coming  a,  25. 
Nou.MANS,  at  tirst  called  Scandinavians,  23. 
early  jiowi^r  and  discoveries  of,  23. 
superior  civilization  of  the,  26. 
Notre  Dax^e,  burial  of  Vsiaslaf  in,  66. 
NoVGOKOD,  Kurik  establishes  bis  court  at.27. 
annexed  by  Georgievitoh,  84. 
successful  defense  of,  91. 
Ituriic  ap[>ointed  prince  of,  92. 
George   sent  to,   to  adjust  the 
difficulties  in,  92. 

0. 
OcTAi  succeeds  Genghis  Khan,  118. 

letter  of,  to  the  king  of  Prance,  12T 
Oleg,  the  guardian  of  Igoi',  30. 

assassinates  .Vscolod  ami  Dir,  31. 

dominion  of,  31. 

attempts  a   nuireh   upon    Constanti- 
nople, 8:!. 

the  expH<lition,  35. 

his  tieatv  with  the  Greeks,  36. 

death  of.' 37. 

his  po|>ularity  and  Labors  forRussia,3S. 

(son  of  Svialoslaf)  receives  the  gov- 
ernment of  the  Drevliens,  48. 

defeated  by  Yarpolk,  46. 

death  of.  50. 

bones  of,  disinterred  and  baptised,  61. 
OLGA(wife  of  Igor)  assumes  the  regency,  42. 

she  i)unishes  the  Drevliens,  42. 

conversion  <pf,  to  Christianity,  43. 

baptised  bv  tlie  luime  of  Helen,  44. 

death  of,  46. 
Orlof  (count)  haughty  behavior  of.  407. 
Otto.man  Poute,  manifesto  of  the,  442. 

P. 
Paganism  in  Kussia  demolishecl  at  ablow,56. 
Paul  1.  (.son  of  Catlitirine)  marriage  of,  421. 

death  of  his  wife,  4:!2. 

visit  of,  to  Frederick,  4-33. 

marriage  of,  430. 

travels  of,  438. 

ignorance  of,  454. 

extravagance  of,  455. 

reestabiishnu-nt   of   ancient    eti- 
quette, 456. 

a  horse  court-martialed  by,  457. 

reason  for  his  cajii-iees,  45S. 

fury  of  on  learning  his  defeat,  465. 

letter  of,  to  Najioleon,  467. 


525 


Paul   I., surrounding  influences  of,  463. 
conspinicy  :i;r;iiiist,  40i). 
assas-siiiatidii  of.  -ITt. 
Pkkin-  burniHl  by  tlie  Tartars,  115. 
Pei:k.\sl.\vle,   the   tonitory   of,    given   to 

Vsevol,>(l,61. 
Peregeslavetz,  reconquered,  and  made  the 
ca|iital  by  Sviatoslaf,  48. 
Periasl.wlh;,  battle  of  the  city  of,  80. 
Pekdu.ve,  one  of  the  godsof  tlie  Kiissians,  41. 

the  idol  of.  destroyed,  55. 
Petcuexegiks,  liTor  purchases  peace  with 
tlie.  3'J. 
Sviato.>lar  defeated  by  the,  49. 
Petee  I.  (tlie  Great)  iiiarriaiie  of,  3  lO. 

attempted  .ass.issination  of,  309. 

liis  return  to  Moscow,  310. 

indleatioiis  of  sreainess,  311. 

bis  p:vssion  for  the  ocean,  312. 

settles  Chinese  difficulties,  314. 

captures  .\zof.  315. 

resolves  to  travel  incognito,  316. 

Lis  attack  on  La  Fort,  317. 

his  residence  at  Zaardam,  318 

liis  recognition,  319. 

anecdotes  of,  32. i. 

his  thirst  for  knowledge,  .321. 

visit  to  London,  322. 

return  to  Moscow,  325. 

his  reforms  in  tlie  church,  326. 

chanze  of  the  calendar,  32T. 

troubles  of,  with  Sweden,  328. 

coolness  on  heaiing  of  the  defeat 

of  his  army,  329. 
founds  St.  Petersburg.  332. 
captures  Marienberg,  333. 
meets     Catharine     and    privately 

m.irries  her,  33 !. 
defeats  Charles  XI  I.,  .3^59. 
deinanils  of,  on  Queen  Anne,  341. 
reply  of  .\nue  to.  342. 
ca|)tures  Livonia.  342. 
desperate  condition  of,  343. 
public  niarriaire  of,  345. 
journeys  "f,  346. 
residen<;e  in  Paris.  .349. 
letters  of.  to  .\lcxis,  3.'il. 
arraigns  liisson  for  high  tre,ason,356. 
ett'eets  a  peace  with  Sweilen,  800. 
causes  coronation  of  Catharine,  361. 
death  of.  362. 

inscription  on  the  tomb  of,  363. 
statue  erected  to,  44X 
Peter  IL,  rezencv  of.  365. 

death  c'.f.  3!)6. 
Peter  II L,  sneeeeils  Kliz.abeth,  S77. 

carlv  life  of,  and  acquaintance 

w'itli  Catharine,  -SSo. 
determines  to  repiuliati^  Cath- 
arine, 390. 
alarm  cjf,  on  the  escape  of  Cath- 

ariip',  39.1. 
alijeca  humiliation  of,  898. 
abdii-ation  of,  399. 
assassination  of,  402. 
PRTF.ntroFK,  the  palace  of.  504. 
PuiLii-  (of  Mace  Ion)  conquers  the  Scythi- 
ans, IS. 
Plagit.,  devjistations  of  the,  419. 
Poland,  aid  fron,  to  V.iiasI  d',  8il. 

Stephen  IJatliori  elected  king,  2G1. 
demands  of.  on  Russia,  264. 
couqucbts  of,  2.05. 


Poland,  conquests  of  Alexis  in,  295. 

death  of  the  Ulnz  of,  29S. 

John  S(d)ie.ski  ch<«en  king  of,  293. 

Stanislaus  Sec;:insky  placed  on  tho 

throne  of,  3o'5. 
degeneration  of,  414. 
sliced  bvlJussiii,  Austria  and  Prus- 
sia, 420. 
rebellion  in,  513. 
Poles,  vise  of  the,  513. 
Polotsk,  captured  by  Vlademer,  52. 
PoLOVTSi,  tile  nation  of,  123. 
Poi'E    (Gregory    Vll.)    promises    to    assist 
Ysiaslaf,  61. 
letter  of,  to  Ysi:islaf.  64. 
letter  of  to  the  king  of  P(dand.  65. 
Pope  (Innocent  111.)  his  letter  to  the  Itus- 

sian  clergy,  102. 
Poi'PEL  (Nicholas)  visit  of,  to  Kussi.a,  184. 

solicits,  the   daughter   of  Ivan   for 
Albert  of  Hadeii,  1S4. 
PoRpnYKOGENETE,  the  cmpcror  of  C^onstan- 

tinople,  43. 
PuGATSilEF,  conspiracy  of,  427. 
execution  of,  429. 
PULTOWA,  battle  of,  339. 
festival,  346. 

P.. 

Religion  of  the  Sclavonian.s.  20. 
Hepuhlioanism.  tirst  indication  of,  131. 
lioGNEUA,  refusal  of,  to  marry  Vlademer,  51. 

forced  to  marry  Vlademer.  .52. 
Roman    (prince    of    Smolensk)    appointed 

I)rince  of  Novgorod,  92. 
Ro.MANOW  (Miidiaid     Feo'dor)    elected   em- 
peror, '.'ST. 
marria'_'e  of  2',)  l. 
])rosprrous  reii,'n,  and  death,  201. 
Rome  purchases  peace  of  the  Sarmatians,  13. 
Ro.Mtju    CiiUKCii,   its    dominion    over   tho 

Greek  church,  lo2. 
RosTisLAFSUCceedsto  the  throne  of  lJussia,1S. 
driven  from  the  throne  by  Geor- 
ges, 82. 
expels     Davidoviteh     from     tho 

throne,  83. 
death  of,  86. 
Ro.STOP  burned  by  Georses,  104. 
UovuoLon  (governor  of  I'olotsk)  his  daugh- 
ter demanded  by  Vlaileiner,  51. 
death  of,  52. 
RiTRiK,   Sineous.  and   Triivor,    consent    to 
govern  Scandinavia,  27. 
unites  the  territories  of  his  brothers 

to  liis  own,  28. 
death  of  30. 

bis  crown  liescends  to  Igor,hisson.3). 
RiTRiic  (brother  of  Andri')  appointed  prince 

of  Novgorod,  92. 
Russia,  history  of,  17. 

after  (ii.sappearaiico  of  the  llnn.s,  21. 
earliest  relial>le  information  of,  23. 
sudden  rise  of,  fioin  the  Sclavoni- 

ans,  26. 
derivation  of  tho  name  of,  27. 
confusion  of,  in  consiMinenee  of  the 

death  ofSviatoslaf,  49. 
united  nndi-r  Varpolk,  51. 
year.",  of  pence  under  Via  lemer,  57 
division  of  the  empire  of,  57. 
calamity  to,  by  tho  death  of  Varos- 
lat;  62. 


526 


EcssiA,  death  penalty  abolished  in,  66. 
misery  and  sutferinir  in,  Ot). 
Vsevolod  suceeods  Ysiaslaf  in  the 

govorninelit  of,  GJ. 
Sviatopolk  assumes  crown  of,  59. 
abandone-d  to  destruction,  69. 
Monoinaque  offered  crown  of,  70. 
invadeil  by  the  Caspian  hordes,  72. 
Mstislaf  becomes  emperor  of,  75. 
fauiiue  and  pestilence  in,  70. 
throne  of,  seized  by  Viatcheslaf,  77. 
throne  of,  seized  b)'  Vsevolod,  77. 
throne  of,  demised" to  Igor,  78. 
varied  fortunes  of,  SI. 
llostislaf  succeeds  Ysiaslas  in  the 

government  of,  SI. 
Georges  secures  the  throne  of,  82. 
Mistishifysia.slavit(di  succeeds  Eos- 

tislaf  as  emjjeror  of,  86. 
union  of  the  princes  of,  87. 
old  feuds  in,  revived,  SS. 
fall  oC  the  capital  of,  S9 
Andre     succeeds     Mistislaf   Ysias- 

lavitcli  as  emperor  of,  S9. 
Andre  becomes  monarch  of,  95. 
Michel  offered  the  tlirone  of,  97. 
Michel's  reign  over,  9S. 
accession  of  Vsevelod   III.,  93. 
Geor^'es  ascends  tlie  throne  of,  104. 
famine  in,  105. 

Constantine  ascends  throne  of,  lOS. 
Georges  II.  ascends  throne  of,  109. 
recapitulation  of  the  establishment 

of  the  monarcliy  of,  110. 
sub<livision  of,  U'l. 
Yaroslaf,  prince  of  Kief,  ascends  the 

throne  of,  12:3. 
in  the  power  of  Bati,  125. 
anniliihited  as  a  kingdom,  126. 
Dmitri  ascends  tlie  throne  of,  133. 
Andre  .ascends  the  throne  of.  1*3. 
ceases  to  be  a  monarchy,  185. 
evils  to,  resulting  from  the  death 

of  Andre,  1:30 
Michel  succeeds  .\ndre,  1:30. 
Geoiges  of  Moscow  succeeds  Michel, 

uo; 

Alexander  succeeds  Georges,  141. 

Jean  Danielovitch  succeeds  Alex- 
ander, 142. 

Simeon  succeeds  Danielovitch,  143. 

accession  of  Ivanovilcli,  140. 

aeression  of  Dmitri  of  Souzda!,  140. 

acce.~>lim  (jf  Dmitri  of  .Moscow,  146. 

airaiu  lirought  under  Tartar  nde,  1.55. 

Va^sali  ascends  the  throne  of,  156. 

V.i>s;dl  Vassalievitch  ascends  the 
throne  of,  102. 

Ivan  I  U.  asc;^nds  the  throne  of.  108. 

rise  of,  in  cstijuation  of  Em  ope,  172. 

invaded  by  the  Mosols,  177. 

alliance  of,  with  Hungary,  183. 

V;issi!i  ascends  the  throne  of,  191. 

splendor  of  the  court  of,  199. 

Alexander  II.  succeeds  Nicholas, 
517. 

invaded  by  Sigismond,  20.5.  i 

Ilelene  assumes  the  re;;ency  of  204. 

Vassa  i  Schouski  succeeds  Ilelene 
in,  2  )S. 

Ivan  Schouski  .succeeds  Vassal!,  203. 

Ivan  liidsky  chosen  regent  of,  2n9. 

Ivan  IV.  ascends  the  throne  of,  214.  , 


EussiA,  news  of  the  discovery  of,  arrives  in 

Englan:!,  246. 
commerce  with  England,  247. 
the  fir.st  emLiassador  from,  248. 
Livonia  attached  to,  253. 
peril  of,  205. 

Feodor  ascends  the  throne  of,  270. 
Boris  Giulenow  crowned,  270. 
Griska  crowned  king  of,  2Sl). 
Zuski  elected  emperor  of,  2S3. 
Ladislaus  elected  king  of,  275. 
llomanow  elected  emperor  of,  287. 
Alexis  succeeds  Romanow.  291. 
Feodor  succeeds  Alexis,  299. 
Sol)liia,  as  reirent  for  Ivan,  succeeds 

Feodor.  311.3. 
Peter  succeeds  Soidiia,  310. 
Catherine  I.  succeeds  Peter  I.,  364. 
Peter  II.  succeeds  Catherine  I., 865. 
Anne  su(;ceeds  I'eter  II.,  367. 
Ivan  V^.  succeeds  Anne,  368. 
Elizabeth  succeeds  Ivan  V.,  .369. 
I'elcr  111.  succeeds  Elizabeth,  377. 
CathiTine   II.,  accession  of,  403. 
desoldlon  of,  by  the  Phigue,  419. 
vast  wealth  of  the  court  of,  420. 
judicial  divisions  of,  43'. 
dillicidties  between  Turkey  and,438. 
I'aul  I.  succeeds  Catherine  II.,  454. 
Alexaudei-  succeeds  I'aul  I.,  471. 
absence  of  bookstores  in,  475. 
treaty  between  France  and,  476. 
Nichcdassucceels  Alexander  I., 502. 
extent  of  the  territory  of,  .506. 
EussiANS,  descript.on  of  tiie  e  irly.  23. 

their  mode  of  warfare,  23. 

re  tre  It  of  the. before  Akhmet,181. 
"Russian  Justick,"  the  code  called,  <lra.\vn 
by  Yaroslaf,  02. 

S. 
Samarcandk  destroyed  by  the  Tartars,  1  lO. 
Saiimatia,  Scythian  name  changed  to,  IS. 
SoANDiNAVivNS,  Called  also  >lormans,  2:3. 

See.  also  Noumans. 
SOHUVKAL  conquered  by  the  Tverians,  141. 
Soii[.ipi'ENHi:cu  (t'ol.).  heroism  <d',  331. 
ScuLiT  sent  to  induce  emigration  of  illus- 
trious men.  224. 
arrested  by  Charles  V.,  225. 
SoiioiTlSKY  (Vassal!)  declares  himself  Tzar  ; 

di-atli  of,  2  .8. 
SciiouiSKY    (Ivan)    succeeds    his    brother 
Vass;di,  :=0S. 
dismissal  of.  2  19. 
assassinates  IJelsky  and  secures 
the  regency,  212. 
SoLAVOXiANS,  conquests  of  the,  22. 

earl}-  religion  of  the,  26. 
sen<l  to  the  Normans  to  de- 
mand a  king,  26. 
Schools,  introduction  of,  57. 

character  of  the,  475. 
ScvTUiANS,  irruption  of  the.  into  Eussia,  17. 
character  of  the,  IS. 
name  changed  to  '•  Sarmatians,"  18. 
Sevastopol,  siege  (pf,  514. 
SiKEUiA,  position  :ind  character  of,  273. 
StcjisMONo  (of  I'oland)  invades  Russia.  205. 
SiMiso.N  (son  of  I):uHelovitch)  ascends  the 
throne.  143 
(son  (d'  .Je.ui)  .acquires  the  title  of 
the  Superb,  144. 


INDEX. 


o27 


SiMEOX,  death  of,  145. 
SiNEous,   l£iiiik,    anil   Truvor,   consent   to 
srovern  Scandinavia.  27. 
death  i)i;  2S. 
Slave,  the  use  of  the  word  abolished,  3'27 
Slavery  in  Uus>in,  'iOi. 
Slave  Tradk.  aisrnment  used  for  the,  100. 
Sloutsk,  luirneil  by  Gieb,  73. 
S.\iOLENSK,    Truvor    estiiblishes  his    court 
near,  27. 
gains  territoryof  Viatcheslaf,61. 
tiiirlit  of.  Ysiaslaf  to,  SO. 
Sopiii.v  instiu'a'es  a  massacre,  *li. 
;H>|HiniUMl  ;is  ri'-'cnt.  ;!;i(i. 
quells  an  insurrection.  yu7. 
retui-ns  to  .Moscow,  :>US. 
sends  first  euibassijdor  to   France, 

80S. 
attempts  to  assassinate  Peter,  309. 
termination  <>(  the  rei^ency  of,  310. 
insurrection  headed  by,  325. 
SotJZDAL,  iiirreasinir  civilization  of,  S3. 

sympalliy  of  llie  people  of,   for 

Sviatoslat;  79. 
the  country  of,  desolated,  SO. 
Staradouu,  siesie  of,  20t;. 
St.  PETEiauuKG,  foundinsc  of,  334. 

arrival  of  first  ship  at,  .385. 

S\ve<les  driven  from,  336. 

the  winter  palace  of,  505. 

St.    Sophia,    burial    of    Vsevolod    in    the 

church  of,  6S. 
Succession,  the  Uussian  rislit  of  112. 
SuwAHROw  (Uen.),  character  and  origin  of, 
4G1. 
his  hatred  of  the  French,  462. 
vanquishes  Moreau,  464. 
utter  defeat  of,  465. 
SviATOPOLK  (tiie  Miserable)  seizes  Russia 
and  kills  his  brothers,  53. 
defeated  by  Varoslaf,  59. 
drives  Yaroslaf  from  Kief,  59. 
poisons  tlie  Polisli  army,  59. 
driven  from  Kief,  59. 
raises  an   army  of  Petchenc- 

gues,  59. 
flight  and  death  of,  60. 
SviATOPOLK  a.ssumes   the    government  of 
I'ussia,  69. 
defeat  and  flight  of,  69. 
character  and  deatli  of,  70. 
SviATOSLAF,  son  of  Igor,  42. 

his    opjiosition  to    embracing 

Christianity,  44. 
assumes  the  crown,  45. 
his  character  and  ambition,  45. 
concjuers  the  Khozars,  46. 
anni'xes  Bulgaria,  46. 
indul'.;encles  of,  47. 
tran.-IV-r.s  his  capital  from  Kief 

to  iJulgaria,  4S. 
the  .sons  of,  4S. 
recon(|'iers  Peregeslavetz,  4>*. 
driven  from  I5ul;;aria.  4S. 
jiersonal  appearance  of,  49. 
deleat  of,  by  the  Petuhcnegues, 

and  death  of,  49. 
Tciicrnisrof  given  to,  61. 
death  of,  65. 
SviATOSLAF,  (gran.lson  of  Oleg)  given  the 
command   of    Iho   troops  of 
Andre,  93. 
defeated  at  Vouoychegorod,  94. 


arcli- 

Nov- 

JOO. 

Is   to 
r,  7^. 


SviATO.SLAF  (prince  of  Tchernisof)  m 
es  against  Vsevelod,  99. 

establishes  liis  court  at 
goroil,  99. 

treaty  of,  with  Vsevelod, 

marri:ige  of,  KtO. 
SviATosLOP  (brother  of  Igor)  .attcmp 

recover  the  throne  for  Iw 

concjueied  by  Ysiaslof,  79. 
Sylve.stke,  bold  address  of,  to  Ivan  IV.,  221 

T. 
Ta.meulane  invades  Russia,  153. 

history  of,  157. 
Tautars,  reiirn  of  the,  113. 
plunder  Kief,  124. 
embrace  Mahommedanism,  131. 
defeat  of  tlie,  by  Dmitri,  151, 
jianic  and  retreat  of  the,  ISl. 
TciiANiBEK  assa.ssinates  his  brother  and  a? 

sumes  the  Tartar  rule,  144. 
TciiERNlGOF,  the  territory  of,  iriven  to.Svia- 

toslaf,  61. 
rciiouDES,  the,  conquered  by  Mstislaf,  76. 
Te.mol'tciiin,  rise  of,  114. 

assumes  the  name  of  Genghis 

Khan,  115. 
See  Gengis  Kuan. 
Theology,  the  Tartars,  127. 
Tilsit,  peace  of,  487. 
ToLEttATiox  in  religion  granted  by  Oleg,  3.3. 

of  Vladimir.  56. 
Tra-ian,  province  of  Dacia  conquered  by,  19. 
Treaty  of  Oleg  with  the  Greeks.  36. 
rRiiiiiTE  exacted  by  the  Tartars,  129. 
TiiiTVOR,  Rurik,   and    Sineous,    consent  to 
govern  Scandinavia,  27. 
death  of,  2S. 
ToKKEY  overrun  by  the  Russians,  419. 
peace  with,  425. 

treaty  between,  and  Ru.s.sia,  513. 
TuiiKisii  Question',  see  Eastern  Question. 
TzAKS,  sec  Chronology  and  Russia. 

U. 

UsBECK  (king  of  the  Tartars)  great  hunting 
expedition  of,  13'^. 
apljoints  .VIo.xander.  son  of  Michel, 

to  the  tlirone  of  Russia,  141. 
death  of,  144. 

V. 

Vassali,  succeeds  Yaroslaf,  132. 
death  of,  132. 
Dmitri  succee<ls,  1.33. 
ascends  the  throne.  155. 
death  of.  161. 
Vassalievitch  ascindb  tlio  throne,  162. 
deposed  by  Youri,  16.3. 
returns  to  Moscow,  164. 
capture  of,  165. 
his  eyes  torn  out,  16!). 
re-Riptures  Moscow,  166. 
chani'e  in  eharact<r  of,  166. 
death  of,  167. 
Vassian  (archbishop  <>\'  Moscow)  letter  of, 
to  Ivan  111.,  179. 
honor  and  death  of  1S.3. 
(of  Kolumna)  advice  of,  to   Ivan 
IV,.  242. 

Vassili  (son  of  Ivan  III.)  marriage  of,  lyj. 
asci-nds  the  throne,  191. 
treaty  of,  with  tlu^  Tartars,  192. 


528 


INDEX 


Vassili,  embassage  from,  to  the  Turks,  193. 
e:nb;iis.uo  from  tlie  Turks  to,  19i. 
eiiibiissiige  from  Genn;iiiy  to,  194. 
unites    witli    PolauJ    against    the 

Turlcs,  19T. 
deatii  "f,  19S. 
ViATcnESLAF,   tlie    tiMTltory    of,   giv^en    to 

Snioloiisli.  (51. 
VlATCUESLAF  scizes  tlic  tlirone  of  Kief,  77. 
surromler  of.  ti>  Vsevolod.  77. 
Vladbmeh  (illegitimate  son  of  Sviatoslaf)  re- 
ceives C()mniani.i  of  Novgorod,  4S. 
liiglit  of.  50. 
he  ileinands  the  daughter  of  Rov- 

gdlod.  51. 
replv  of  Uognoda  to,  51 
the  iiiotlier%)f  51. 
captures  Poh)tslc,  kills  Rovgolod 

and  marries  K',)gned:L,  52. 
capture's  Kief  52. 
assassinates  Varopolk.  52. 
sacriKci'S  children  ti>  idols,  53. 
conversion  of,  to  Cliristianity.  5-3. 
demands  .Vnne  of  Constantinople 

as  his  bride.  54. 
marriage  of,  55. 

his  efforts  to  expel  p.aganism,  55. 
toleration  of  5ii. 
excessive  lienevolence  of,  57. 
death  of  57. 

Sviatopolk  succeeds  him,  5S. 
surrenders  his  crown  to  Sviato- 
polk, 1)9. 
Vladimtr  captured,  122. 
Vladimibovitcu  invited  to  take  the  throne 
of  Eussia,  7G. 
death  of  77. 
Voltaire,  library  of,  purchased  by  Cath- 
arine, 44G. 
VotroTonECOKOD,    heroic    defense    of    the 

fortress  of,  93. 
VsESLAF  proclaimed  king,  62. 
VsEVOLOD,  the  territory  of  Pereaslable  given 
to,  61. 
succeeds  Tsiaslaf,  66. 
character  of,  67. 
death  of,  63. 
VsEVOLOD  III.,  accession  of  to  the  Russian 
throne,  93. 
seizes    the    embassadors  of 

Sviatoslaf  99. 
seizes  Novgorod,  100. 
treaty  with  Sviatoslaf  100. 
expeilition  against  Bulgaria, 

101. 
deatli  of;  wife  of  102. 
VsEVOLOD  (son  of  Monomaque)  expedition 
of  to  Finland,  72. 
estatdi.shes  himself  on  the  throne 

at  Kiff,  77. 
death  of  78. 

W. 
\Y'oM.'iN,  indi;:nitics  to  which  she  was  sub- 
jected, 21. 


Yauopolk  (son  of  Sviatoslaf)  receives  the 
government  of  Kief,  48. 


Taropolk  conquers  Ole?,  49. 

Russia  united  under  him,  50. 
the  betrotlled  of  51. 
assassinated,  52. 
the    bones   of    disinterred  and 

baptized,  61. 
(son  of  Monomnque),  expedition 

to  tlie  Don,  72. 
conquered  by  beauty,  72, 
marriage  of,  72. 

captures  Gleb,  burns  Droutsk,73. 
YiKOSLAF,   march   of,   against  his   brotiier 
Sviatopolk,  5S. 
defeats  Sviatopcdk,  59. 
driven  from  Kief,  59. 
drives  Sviatopolk  from  Kief,  59. 
conquers  him  on  the  banks  of 

the  Alta,  69. 
secures     the     government    of 

Russia,  60. 
prosperity  of  Russia  under  the 

rule  of,  6.1. 
attempts    of,    to    educate    the 

Russians,  60. 
letter  of,  to   his  children,  and 

bequests  of,  61. 
death  of,  61. 
worki  of  61. 
Y.vu.isi,  vF    (prince   of   Kief)  ascends    the 
Russian  throne,  123. 
energy  and  nobility  of,  12-3. 
commanded    to  appear   before 

Bati.  125. 
sent  to  Oct.ai.  125. 
death  of,  126.' 
Yakoslaf  (of  Tiver)  succeeds  Ale.vander, 
13). 
accused  by  the  people,  130. 
humiliation  of  and  exile,  131. 
sends  eml>a.s.sadors  to  the  Tar- 
tars ;  death  of,  131. 
Vassal!  succeeds,  132. 
Youui  captures  Moscow  and  deposes  Vassili, 
163. 
death  of,  164.  / 

YsiASLAF  I.   (sou  of  Yaroslaf)  nominated 
emperor  of  Russia   by  his 
father,  61. 
troubles  and  flight  of,  62. 
his  reception  in  Pidaud,  63. 
his  i>unisliment  of  Kief  68. 
flight  of  to  (Tcrmany,  6-3. 
implores  aid  of  the  Pope,  64. 
recovers  his  kingdom,  6j. 
deatli  of  65. 
YsiASLAF  II.  seizes  the  throne  of  Russia,  78. 
conquers  Sviatoslaf  77. 
his  address  to  the  Novgorod- 

ians,  79. 
conquered  bv  Georses,  80. 
flight  of,  to  Smolensk,  80. 
varied  fortunes  of,  61. 
death  of,  82. 

Z. 

Zep.f.brinow,  routs  tlie  Turks  at  Azof,  259 
ZusKi  hca<ls  an  insurrection,  2S2. 

elected  emperor  by  the  people,  283. 

death  of,  2S6. 


r.   *. 


THE  LIBRARY 
UNIVERSITY  OF  CALIFORNIA 

Santa  Barbara 


THIS  BOOK  IS  DUE  ON  THE  LAST  DATE 
STAMPED  BELOW. 


Series  9482 


